University of California, Riverside
Cal State Northridge
Cal State Northridge Ends UCR's Eight-Game Home Winning Streak, 64-56
1/14/2009 1:38:53 PM | Men's Basketball
(Riverside, CA) – The UC Riverside Men's Basketball team appeared well on its way to a ninth straight home win at the Student Recreation Center Wednesday evening after carrying a double-digit lead into the second half against Cal State Northridge. UCR went cold after the half, however, and the Matadors walked away with a 64-56 win.
The Highlanders scored the first 12 points of the game and although the Matadors cut the lead to five at one point in the period, UCR still led by nine heading into the locker room.
Cal State Northridge was without their leading scorer, Deon Tresvant, and was struggling from the field in the early going making just 9 of 31 shots from the field in the first half. UC Riverside, meanwhile nailed 46.4 percent of their shots in the first to build their lead.
A Brandon Dowdy three-pointer with 14:23 remaining pushed the Highlanders' lead to 12 again and that's when the proverbial wheels fell off the wagon. Just over three minutes later, UCR's lead was reduced to one as Cal State Northridge rattled off 11 straight points.
The Matadors took their first lead of the ballgame with 6:41 to go on a Willie Galick layup. Kyle Austin made two free throws on the Highlanders subsequent possession, but that was the last lead UCR would enjoy.
Josh Jenkins' fast break layup with 5:52 to go made the score 54-53 Matadors and started a 9-0 Northridge run that put the game out of reach.
Jenkins scored 12 points after the break and Kenny Daniels added 10 as the Matadors connected on 54.2 percent of their shots in the second period. The Highlanders, on the other hand, couldn't buy a bucket after the break missing 21 of 28 shots and committing 12 turnovers in the final 20 minutes of play.
Javon Borum led UCR with 15 points on the evening behind five of eight shooting from three-point range.
UC Riverside takes a break from conference play this weekend traveling to CSU Bakersfield for a 7 pm PT tip on Saturday, January 17. The Highlanders resume the Big West portion of their schedule on Saturday January 24 at Long Beach State.
