Wednesday, February 11
Student Recreation Center
8:00 PM
University of California, Riverside
73
vs
70
Long Beach State
Highlanders Need Two Overtimes To Vanquish Long Beach State, 73-70
2/12/2009 2:37:20 AM | Men's Basketball
Four days ago, Kyle Austin and Aaron Scott suffered through their worst combined shooting nights of the season making just 4 of 21 shots for 12 points. The Highlanders got contributions on offense from other players, however, and they pulled out the 58-53 win over UC Davis. Wednesday night against Long Beach State was retribution time for the duo as they went 19-31 from the field for 49 points. And UC Riverside needed every one of them as they eked out a 73-70 win over the visiting 49ers.
The win propelled the Highlanders (14-9, 6-5) into a tie for third place in the Big West while LBSU (12-11, 7-4) dropped to second place, a half game behind Cal State Northridge. The Matadors (11-10, 7-3), coincidentally enough, are the Highlanders next opponent as UCR travels to the Matadome this Saturday for a 5 pm PT tip.
The 49ers enjoyed a 28-23 lead at halftime connecting on 50 percent of their shots, but the Highlanders hung close despite a 36-percent shooting effort on their offensive end of the floor. Back-to-back threes by Sean Cunningham and Austin and a pair of Scott free throws tied the game at 31 to open the second. It was the third tie of the ball game and the first of nine in the second period.
With two minutes to go in regulations, Long Beach appeared to be in control having turned a tie ballgame into a five point lead over the span of one minute and 19 seconds. UC Riverside scored the final five points in the half, however, on two Scott layups and a free throw by Javon Borum.
UCR scored the first seven points in the first overtime period capping off the 12-0 run on a jumper by, who else, Aaron Scott. That made the score 64-57 with 1:48 to go and the game appeared to be in hand. The entire lead disappeared, however, as the Highlanders missed four free throws and committed two turnovers on their final four possessions of the stanza and the 49ers drained their final three jumpers to send the game into double overtime. It was the first double overtime game for the Highlanders since they came away with an 90-88 win at Sacramento State on January 19, 2001.
The second overtime period seesawed back and forth, and with 1:34 remaining a Casper Ware jumper gave Long Beach a 70-68 lead. It was the last points the 49ers would score. LBSU had three possessions down the stretch and committed two turnovers and missed a desperation three at the buzzer. The Highlanders, meanwhile closed within one on an Austin free throw, took the lead on a Scott layup and sealed the deal with a pair of Borum free throws.
The win propelled the Highlanders (14-9, 6-5) into a tie for third place in the Big West while LBSU (12-11, 7-4) dropped to second place, a half game behind Cal State Northridge. The Matadors (11-10, 7-3), coincidentally enough, are the Highlanders next opponent as UCR travels to the Matadome this Saturday for a 5 pm PT tip.
The 49ers enjoyed a 28-23 lead at halftime connecting on 50 percent of their shots, but the Highlanders hung close despite a 36-percent shooting effort on their offensive end of the floor. Back-to-back threes by Sean Cunningham and Austin and a pair of Scott free throws tied the game at 31 to open the second. It was the third tie of the ball game and the first of nine in the second period.
With two minutes to go in regulations, Long Beach appeared to be in control having turned a tie ballgame into a five point lead over the span of one minute and 19 seconds. UC Riverside scored the final five points in the half, however, on two Scott layups and a free throw by Javon Borum.
UCR scored the first seven points in the first overtime period capping off the 12-0 run on a jumper by, who else, Aaron Scott. That made the score 64-57 with 1:48 to go and the game appeared to be in hand. The entire lead disappeared, however, as the Highlanders missed four free throws and committed two turnovers on their final four possessions of the stanza and the 49ers drained their final three jumpers to send the game into double overtime. It was the first double overtime game for the Highlanders since they came away with an 90-88 win at Sacramento State on January 19, 2001.
The second overtime period seesawed back and forth, and with 1:34 remaining a Casper Ware jumper gave Long Beach a 70-68 lead. It was the last points the 49ers would score. LBSU had three possessions down the stretch and committed two turnovers and missed a desperation three at the buzzer. The Highlanders, meanwhile closed within one on an Austin free throw, took the lead on a Scott layup and sealed the deal with a pair of Borum free throws.
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