Saturday, November 17
Riverside, CA
1:00 pm
UC Riverside
89
vs
76
Whitman College
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Chris Harriel's Career-High 26 Points Help Men's Basketball To 89-76 Win Over Whitman
11/17/2012 6:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—Chris Harriel exploded for a career-high 26 points Saturday afternoon as the UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team picked up an 89-76 victory over visiting Whitman College for the team's first win of the season (box score).
If UCR was going to win the game, the Highlanders would have to do it without their second leading scorer and leading rebounder as Chris Patton missed the game due to illness. Junior transfer Lucas Devenny started in Patton's place, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds in his stead.
The Missionaries were able to hang with the Highlanders for much of the game thanks to 11 made three-pointers and an effort on the glass that nearly matched UC Riverside's. Whitman ended the game with 40 rebounds to 48 for UCR including 19 on the offensive end.
The Missionaries did most of their damage in the first period leading by as many as five points on two occasions. The last time was with 8:16 to go in the period at 36-31 following a jumper by Ignes Pavilonis. UC Riverside scored 18 of the next 24 points, however, to go up seven, 49-42 with 1:21 on the clock. Harriel scored seven points during the run giving the Highlanders a lead they would never relinquish.
UCR took a 51-44 lead into the locker room in part due to a 60.5 percent shooting effort from the field. Harriel scored 16 of his game-high 26 in the first period making 7 of 13 shots from the floor.
The Missionaries weren't ready to leave yet, though, as Whitman opened the second half on a 9-2 run tying the game at 53 apiece. A Robert Smith three-pointer put the Highlanders back on top, and ignited a 23-6 run that gave UCR its biggest lead of the game at 17 points. The lead never dipped below 11 points the rest of the way, and the Highlanders had their first win of the season in hand.
In addition to Harriel's career night, Josh Fox and Smith each notched season highs with Fox scoring 18 points and Smith chipping in with 17. Ben Eisenhardt led the Missionaries with 21 points on the day.
The Highlanders are headed to The Last Frontier this week for the Great Alaska Shootout. The Tournament begins for UC Riverside on Wednesday, November 21 with an 8:30 pm PT game against Northeastern.
If UCR was going to win the game, the Highlanders would have to do it without their second leading scorer and leading rebounder as Chris Patton missed the game due to illness. Junior transfer Lucas Devenny started in Patton's place, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds in his stead.
The Missionaries were able to hang with the Highlanders for much of the game thanks to 11 made three-pointers and an effort on the glass that nearly matched UC Riverside's. Whitman ended the game with 40 rebounds to 48 for UCR including 19 on the offensive end.
The Missionaries did most of their damage in the first period leading by as many as five points on two occasions. The last time was with 8:16 to go in the period at 36-31 following a jumper by Ignes Pavilonis. UC Riverside scored 18 of the next 24 points, however, to go up seven, 49-42 with 1:21 on the clock. Harriel scored seven points during the run giving the Highlanders a lead they would never relinquish.
UCR took a 51-44 lead into the locker room in part due to a 60.5 percent shooting effort from the field. Harriel scored 16 of his game-high 26 in the first period making 7 of 13 shots from the floor.
The Missionaries weren't ready to leave yet, though, as Whitman opened the second half on a 9-2 run tying the game at 53 apiece. A Robert Smith three-pointer put the Highlanders back on top, and ignited a 23-6 run that gave UCR its biggest lead of the game at 17 points. The lead never dipped below 11 points the rest of the way, and the Highlanders had their first win of the season in hand.
In addition to Harriel's career night, Josh Fox and Smith each notched season highs with Fox scoring 18 points and Smith chipping in with 17. Ben Eisenhardt led the Missionaries with 21 points on the day.
The Highlanders are headed to The Last Frontier this week for the Great Alaska Shootout. The Tournament begins for UC Riverside on Wednesday, November 21 with an 8:30 pm PT game against Northeastern.
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