Thursday, February 25
Stockton, CA
7:00 PM
UC Riverside
62
at
53
Pacific
Photo by: Bobby R. Hester, (c) 2009
Kyle Austin's 23 Points Lead Highlanders To 62-53 Upset Of Pacific
2/25/2010 7:06:25 PM | Men's Basketball
UC Riverside (62), Pacific (53) Box Score
Stockton, CA—Kyle Austin scored 23 points Thursday evening, and UC Riverside pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the Big West season knocking off second-ranked Pacific on the road, 62-53. It was the third straight win for UCR, and moved them a half game ahead of UC Irvine in the race for the eighth seed in the conference tournament. The Highlanders are also now just a half game back of Cal State Northridge for seventh place, and a game behind Cal Poly for sixth.
The last time UC Riverside and the Tigers tangled it was in front of a national TV audience as ESPN2 made its first-ever trip to the Student Recreation Center. UC Riverside took an early lead in that one, but it was Pacific building a 13-point advantage at the half and cruising to a 15-point win. The Highlanders' trademark defense was absent that evening as the Tigers hit 49.2 percent of their field goal attempts and 11 of 25 three-pointers while committing just four turnovers
The old UCR defense was back on display Thursday, however, as Pacific connected on just 33,3 percent of their shots and 6 of 24 three-pointers while committing 11 turnovers on the night. Austin's 23-point effort was also a vast improvement from the eight points he scored in the team's last meeting—his lowest conference output of the season.
Austin and Jesse LoBue each had six points at the break as the Highlanders built a 24-17 halftime lead. Those 17 points were the fewest UCR has allowed in a half since UC Santa Barbara scored just 14 points in a January 4 meeting.
UCR kept up the pressure in the second extending their lead to 10 at the first media time out. The Highlanders still led by 10, 38-28, with 12:42 to go in the game, when Pacific turned up its defensive intensity forcing a number of UCR turnovers and ill-advised shots as they employed a full-court press. The Tigers scored seven points in a row to make it a 38-35 game with 10:40 to go.
With 7:24 left on the clock, Terrell Smith drained a three-pointer to give Pacific a 45-43 lead—its first since midway through the first half. With 6:10 to go, Austin hit a pair of free throws to tie the game and with 5:39 remaining, he nailed two more to put the Highlanders back on top, 49-47. Austin's jumper on UCR's next possession put UC Riverside up four, and they would never trail the rest of the way
Austin scored 17 of his points after the break and UCR made 16 of 22 free throws in the second half to pull out the victory. Sam Willard's 15 points and 11 rebounds paced the Tigers who fell a game and a half behind front-running UC Santa Barbara in the race for the number one seed in the Big West Tournament.
Next up for the Highlanders is a 1 pm Sunday afternoon tip at UC Davis.
Stockton, CA—Kyle Austin scored 23 points Thursday evening, and UC Riverside pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the Big West season knocking off second-ranked Pacific on the road, 62-53. It was the third straight win for UCR, and moved them a half game ahead of UC Irvine in the race for the eighth seed in the conference tournament. The Highlanders are also now just a half game back of Cal State Northridge for seventh place, and a game behind Cal Poly for sixth.
The last time UC Riverside and the Tigers tangled it was in front of a national TV audience as ESPN2 made its first-ever trip to the Student Recreation Center. UC Riverside took an early lead in that one, but it was Pacific building a 13-point advantage at the half and cruising to a 15-point win. The Highlanders' trademark defense was absent that evening as the Tigers hit 49.2 percent of their field goal attempts and 11 of 25 three-pointers while committing just four turnovers
The old UCR defense was back on display Thursday, however, as Pacific connected on just 33,3 percent of their shots and 6 of 24 three-pointers while committing 11 turnovers on the night. Austin's 23-point effort was also a vast improvement from the eight points he scored in the team's last meeting—his lowest conference output of the season.
Austin and Jesse LoBue each had six points at the break as the Highlanders built a 24-17 halftime lead. Those 17 points were the fewest UCR has allowed in a half since UC Santa Barbara scored just 14 points in a January 4 meeting.
UCR kept up the pressure in the second extending their lead to 10 at the first media time out. The Highlanders still led by 10, 38-28, with 12:42 to go in the game, when Pacific turned up its defensive intensity forcing a number of UCR turnovers and ill-advised shots as they employed a full-court press. The Tigers scored seven points in a row to make it a 38-35 game with 10:40 to go.
With 7:24 left on the clock, Terrell Smith drained a three-pointer to give Pacific a 45-43 lead—its first since midway through the first half. With 6:10 to go, Austin hit a pair of free throws to tie the game and with 5:39 remaining, he nailed two more to put the Highlanders back on top, 49-47. Austin's jumper on UCR's next possession put UC Riverside up four, and they would never trail the rest of the way
Austin scored 17 of his points after the break and UCR made 16 of 22 free throws in the second half to pull out the victory. Sam Willard's 15 points and 11 rebounds paced the Tigers who fell a game and a half behind front-running UC Santa Barbara in the race for the number one seed in the Big West Tournament.
Next up for the Highlanders is a 1 pm Sunday afternoon tip at UC Davis.
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