Saturday, December 22
Riverside, CA
1:00 pm
University of California, Riverside
53
vs
61
Air Force
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Men's Basketball Erases 13-Point, First-Half Lead But Air Force Picks Up 61-53 Win
12/22/2012 4:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team erased a 13-point, first-half deficit Saturday afternoon, but visiting Air Force put together a 10-0 run early in the second half and never trailed the rest of the way escaping the SRC Arena with a 61-53 victory (Box Score).
The Highlanders (3-9) scored the first four points of the game only to watch as the Falcons (8-2) ran off 17 straight to take a 13-point lead with 12:15 to go in the first. Josh Fox's jumper ended the Air Force run with just over 11 minutes to go.
After Tre' Coggins' lay up with 10:16 on the clock pushed the Falcons' lead back to 13, the Highlanders rattled off 12 consecutive points to cut the lead to one. Chris Patton got things started with an old-fashioned three-pointer, followed by an Austin Quick make from beyond the arc and a Robert Smith three ball. Another Patton basket made it a two-point game, and the junior transfer made one of two free throws with 6:35 on the clock to bring the Highlanders to within one.
Two possessions later, Taylor Johns made a pair of free throws, and on UCR's next trip down the floor, Smith nailed another three-pointer to give the Highlanders their first lead since the 16:22 mark, 23-21.
The teams traded baskets for most of the remainder of the half, and Coggins' jumper with 1:08 to go in the period gave the Falcons a two-point halftime lead.
Fox got the second half started with an emphatic dunk to tie the score, but Air Force scored the next 10 and never looked back. Michael Lyons scored six points during the run, while DeLovell Earls and Taylor Broekhuis added a basket each. UCR cut the Falcons advantage to five points on two occasions, but couldn't get any closer.
The Highlanders shot 30 percent in the second half after connecting on 45.0 percent of their shots in the first period. Meanwhile, Air Force made just 35.7 of their shots in the first 20 minutes of play, but drained 52.0 percent after the break.
Lyons led all scorers with 22 points, 14 of which came in the second half. Patton's 14 points and seven rebounds paced UC Riverside, while Smith chipped in with 11.
The Highlanders are off for the next week before beginning Big West Conference play on Saturday, August 29 with a 1 pm PT tip against Cal Poly.
The Highlanders (3-9) scored the first four points of the game only to watch as the Falcons (8-2) ran off 17 straight to take a 13-point lead with 12:15 to go in the first. Josh Fox's jumper ended the Air Force run with just over 11 minutes to go.
After Tre' Coggins' lay up with 10:16 on the clock pushed the Falcons' lead back to 13, the Highlanders rattled off 12 consecutive points to cut the lead to one. Chris Patton got things started with an old-fashioned three-pointer, followed by an Austin Quick make from beyond the arc and a Robert Smith three ball. Another Patton basket made it a two-point game, and the junior transfer made one of two free throws with 6:35 on the clock to bring the Highlanders to within one.
Two possessions later, Taylor Johns made a pair of free throws, and on UCR's next trip down the floor, Smith nailed another three-pointer to give the Highlanders their first lead since the 16:22 mark, 23-21.
The teams traded baskets for most of the remainder of the half, and Coggins' jumper with 1:08 to go in the period gave the Falcons a two-point halftime lead.
Fox got the second half started with an emphatic dunk to tie the score, but Air Force scored the next 10 and never looked back. Michael Lyons scored six points during the run, while DeLovell Earls and Taylor Broekhuis added a basket each. UCR cut the Falcons advantage to five points on two occasions, but couldn't get any closer.
The Highlanders shot 30 percent in the second half after connecting on 45.0 percent of their shots in the first period. Meanwhile, Air Force made just 35.7 of their shots in the first 20 minutes of play, but drained 52.0 percent after the break.
Lyons led all scorers with 22 points, 14 of which came in the second half. Patton's 14 points and seven rebounds paced UC Riverside, while Smith chipped in with 11.
The Highlanders are off for the next week before beginning Big West Conference play on Saturday, August 29 with a 1 pm PT tip against Cal Poly.
Day in the Life: Leilani Juan
Monday, May 04
UCR Student-Athletes cheer on our students.
Friday, May 01
UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24
Athletics Director Greg Paules Introductory Presentation Recap
Tuesday, March 24
