Thursday, January 12
Riverside, CA
7:00 pm
UC Riverside
79
vs
70
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Martin's Career-High 33 Points Lead UCR Over UC Santa Barbara, 79-70
1/12/2012 11:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UC Riverside 79, UC Santa Barbara 70 (OT) Box Score
Riverside—Phil Martin scored a career-high 33 points, and the Highlanders made 10 of 12 free throws in the bonus period to pick up a 79-70 overtime win over visiting UC Santa Barbara Thursday evening. UC Riverside is now 3-1 in Big West play for the first time in its history, and 9-8 overall.
Martin was a one-man, wrecking crew in the first half as he scored 21 of the Highlanders 33 points in the period, en route to a 33-28 halftime advantage. The Gauchos struggled from the floor in the first 20 minutes of action shooting just 35.7 percent (10 for 28) from the field and 25.0 percent (2 for 8) from three-point range. Orlando Johnson, who came into the game averaging more than 20 points per game, scored just six in the first, tying Greg Smogyi for team-high honors.
The Highlanders scored the first basket of the second period, but UCSB turned up the defensive pressure finally regaining the lead with 10:17 to go in the game, 44-43, on a pair of James Nunnally free throws. A Nunnally three on the Gauchos next possession put them up a deuce, and PJ Taylor's long-range jumper with 8:24 game UC Santa Barbara its largest lead of the game, 50-45.
UC Riverside scored on their next two trips down the floor, and neither team led by more than three-points for the remainder of regulation.
Kyle Boswell's three-pointer tied the game for the tenth time at 61 with 1:15 remaining, and after BJ Shearry missed a jumper, the Highlanders put Johnson on the line for a pair of free throws with 11 seconds on the clock. He hit them both, and UCR inbounded the ball to Robert Smith.
The Highlanders didn't have any timeouts left, and as Smith headed up court, Johnson defended him closely. The officials called a foul, evidently thinking that Johnson was trying to foul intentionally, although the Gauchos had no fouls to give. After first reversing the call, and giving UCR the ball out of bounds with nine seconds remaining, the officials huddled once again, and allowed the foul call to stand. That sent Smith to line for two, and he hit the both sending the game into overtime.
The teams traded baskets to start the extra stanza, but the Highlanders scored the next nine points, five of which came from the free throw line, to effectively end the game.
Smith added 16 points for the Highlanders and Nitoto scored 11. Johnson paced UC Santa Barbara with 23 points and Nunnally chipped in with 16.
The Highlanders remain at home this weekend as they host Cal Poly (11-6, 2-2) on Saturday at the Student Recreation Center. Tip is slated for 7 pm PT.
GAME NOTES
The Highlanders are now 5-0 when scoring 70 or more points in a game this season.
Phil Martin recorded his second double-double of the season with 33 points and 11 rebounds
UC Riverside 29 made free throws and 35 attempts were the most of the season.
Martin became the first member of the Highlanders in the Division I era to score 20 or more points in four straight games.
Riverside—Phil Martin scored a career-high 33 points, and the Highlanders made 10 of 12 free throws in the bonus period to pick up a 79-70 overtime win over visiting UC Santa Barbara Thursday evening. UC Riverside is now 3-1 in Big West play for the first time in its history, and 9-8 overall.
Martin was a one-man, wrecking crew in the first half as he scored 21 of the Highlanders 33 points in the period, en route to a 33-28 halftime advantage. The Gauchos struggled from the floor in the first 20 minutes of action shooting just 35.7 percent (10 for 28) from the field and 25.0 percent (2 for 8) from three-point range. Orlando Johnson, who came into the game averaging more than 20 points per game, scored just six in the first, tying Greg Smogyi for team-high honors.
The Highlanders scored the first basket of the second period, but UCSB turned up the defensive pressure finally regaining the lead with 10:17 to go in the game, 44-43, on a pair of James Nunnally free throws. A Nunnally three on the Gauchos next possession put them up a deuce, and PJ Taylor's long-range jumper with 8:24 game UC Santa Barbara its largest lead of the game, 50-45.
UC Riverside scored on their next two trips down the floor, and neither team led by more than three-points for the remainder of regulation.
Kyle Boswell's three-pointer tied the game for the tenth time at 61 with 1:15 remaining, and after BJ Shearry missed a jumper, the Highlanders put Johnson on the line for a pair of free throws with 11 seconds on the clock. He hit them both, and UCR inbounded the ball to Robert Smith.
The Highlanders didn't have any timeouts left, and as Smith headed up court, Johnson defended him closely. The officials called a foul, evidently thinking that Johnson was trying to foul intentionally, although the Gauchos had no fouls to give. After first reversing the call, and giving UCR the ball out of bounds with nine seconds remaining, the officials huddled once again, and allowed the foul call to stand. That sent Smith to line for two, and he hit the both sending the game into overtime.
The teams traded baskets to start the extra stanza, but the Highlanders scored the next nine points, five of which came from the free throw line, to effectively end the game.
Smith added 16 points for the Highlanders and Nitoto scored 11. Johnson paced UC Santa Barbara with 23 points and Nunnally chipped in with 16.
The Highlanders remain at home this weekend as they host Cal Poly (11-6, 2-2) on Saturday at the Student Recreation Center. Tip is slated for 7 pm PT.
GAME NOTES
The Highlanders are now 5-0 when scoring 70 or more points in a game this season.
Phil Martin recorded his second double-double of the season with 33 points and 11 rebounds
UC Riverside 29 made free throws and 35 attempts were the most of the season.
Martin became the first member of the Highlanders in the Division I era to score 20 or more points in four straight games.
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