Monday, January 4
Student Recreation Center
7:00 PM
UC Riverside
53
vs
57
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Bobby R. Hester, (c) 2009
Austin's 20 Not Enough As UCR Men Fall 57-53 To UC Santa Barbara
1/4/2010 9:38:13 AM | Men's Basketball
UC Santa Barbara 57, UC Riverside 53 Box Score
Riverside, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team (7-7, 1-1) was looking to stretch its home winning streak to 11 games and start the Big West season at 2-0 for just the second time in as many seasons, but the Highlanders couldn't hold on to a 10-point lead falling to UC Santa Barbara 57-53. Kyle Austin scored 20 for UC Riverside in the loss including 16 in the second half, and Rudy Meo (pictured) chipped in 15.
The Highlanders defense was on full display in the first half holding the Gauchos to just 14 points on 17.9 percent shooting from the field. UCSB (6-6, 1-1) went without a field goal over the final 7:42 of the first half as they managed just one made free throw over that span allowing the Highlanders to enter the locker room with a 23-14 lead.
Whatever Coach Williams said to the Gauchos at halftime worked early on as they scored the first six points of the second half to cut the lead to three, 23-20. UCR finally ended its scoring drought on an Austin jumper, but UCSB socred the next five points to take their first lead since 8:52 to go in the first.
The teams traded baskets on the next two possessions, but following the first media timeout, the Gauchos went on a 9-0 run to take an eight-point lead, 35-27, with 13:13 to go. The Highlanders began to chip away at the UCSB lead and a Meo three-pointer with 7:08 remaining put UCR back on top 41-39.
The Highlanders still led by three, 53-50 with 1:59 left after Meo drained his third three ball of the night, but that was the last basket UCR would score. James Nunnally hit a jumper with 1:33 to go to cut the UC Riverside advantage to one. On the Highlanders' next possession, UCSB's 7-3 sophomore Greg Somogyi picked up his fifth block of the game, and Orlando Johnson drilled a three to put the Gauchos up by two, 55-53.
On UCR's subsequent trip down the floor, David Chavarria had the ball stripped from him in front of the Highlanders bench, and Johnson's free throws with 10 seconds to go sealed the deal.
Austin's 20 points led all scorers followed by Meo's 15 and Larry Gurganious' 10, but the three other UC Riverside starters—Dwight Gordon, Sean Cunningham and Bryson Hampton—combined to score zero points on the evening. Nunnally led the Gauchos with 19 points followed by Johnson's 17.
The Highlanders are off until Saturday, January 9 when they host Cal State Fullerton at the Student Recreation Center at 4 pm PT. The game is being televised on FSN West.
Riverside, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team (7-7, 1-1) was looking to stretch its home winning streak to 11 games and start the Big West season at 2-0 for just the second time in as many seasons, but the Highlanders couldn't hold on to a 10-point lead falling to UC Santa Barbara 57-53. Kyle Austin scored 20 for UC Riverside in the loss including 16 in the second half, and Rudy Meo (pictured) chipped in 15.
The Highlanders defense was on full display in the first half holding the Gauchos to just 14 points on 17.9 percent shooting from the field. UCSB (6-6, 1-1) went without a field goal over the final 7:42 of the first half as they managed just one made free throw over that span allowing the Highlanders to enter the locker room with a 23-14 lead.
Whatever Coach Williams said to the Gauchos at halftime worked early on as they scored the first six points of the second half to cut the lead to three, 23-20. UCR finally ended its scoring drought on an Austin jumper, but UCSB socred the next five points to take their first lead since 8:52 to go in the first.
The teams traded baskets on the next two possessions, but following the first media timeout, the Gauchos went on a 9-0 run to take an eight-point lead, 35-27, with 13:13 to go. The Highlanders began to chip away at the UCSB lead and a Meo three-pointer with 7:08 remaining put UCR back on top 41-39.
The Highlanders still led by three, 53-50 with 1:59 left after Meo drained his third three ball of the night, but that was the last basket UCR would score. James Nunnally hit a jumper with 1:33 to go to cut the UC Riverside advantage to one. On the Highlanders' next possession, UCSB's 7-3 sophomore Greg Somogyi picked up his fifth block of the game, and Orlando Johnson drilled a three to put the Gauchos up by two, 55-53.
On UCR's subsequent trip down the floor, David Chavarria had the ball stripped from him in front of the Highlanders bench, and Johnson's free throws with 10 seconds to go sealed the deal.
Austin's 20 points led all scorers followed by Meo's 15 and Larry Gurganious' 10, but the three other UC Riverside starters—Dwight Gordon, Sean Cunningham and Bryson Hampton—combined to score zero points on the evening. Nunnally led the Gauchos with 19 points followed by Johnson's 17.
The Highlanders are off until Saturday, January 9 when they host Cal State Fullerton at the Student Recreation Center at 4 pm PT. The game is being televised on FSN West.
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