Saturday, November 16
Riverside, CA
4:00 PM
University of California, Riverside
72
vs
67
Montana State (Homecoming)
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Taylor Johns' Career-High 31 Points Leads Men's Basketball To 72-67 Homecoming Win
11/16/2013 7:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—Taylor Johns scored a career-high 31 points, and the UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team fended off a late Montana State rally Saturday evening as the Highlanders picked up a 72-67 win iover the Bobcats n front of a capacity Homecoming crowd (Box Score/Audio Highlights/Video Recap).
It was the first win of the season for UC Riverside (1-2) and the first in the head coaching career of first-year Head Coach Dennis Cutts.
Johns carried the Highlanders in the first half with 12 points on six-of-eight shooting from the field. The rest of the team was just five for 15 from the floor, but connected on eight of nine from the free throw line.
The Bobcats (0-2) were on fire in the early going making 14 of 26 shots in the first half, but they failed to get to the free throw line in the first, leaving the teams tied at 30 at the break.
During halftime, the Highlanders honored more than 80 of their men's basketball alumni who were back on campus to celebrate the Homecoming weekend. Among those in attendance were former coaches John Masi, Freddie Goss and Dr. Frank Lindeburg as well as All-American Sam Cash '72.
Following a video tribute to UC Riverside's men's basketball history, the former players and coaches were called out by decade to loud applause from the 2,200-plus in attendance (View Reunion Photo Gallery/Watch Video Tribute).
Johns continued his onslaught in the second half scoring 19 points on seven-of-eight shooting from the floor and five of seven from the line. With the score tied at 37 with 15:36 to go in the game, Johns scored on consecutive layups to give the Highlanders a lead they would never relinquish.
A 9-0 UCR run that ended with a Johns dunk and a free throw with 4:08 on the clock gave the Highlanders a 12-point lead—their largest of the evening. The Bobcats cut the UC Riverside advantage to four on three occasions, but the Highlanders held on, sending their fans home happy.
Steven Thornton joined Johns in double digits scoring 11 points while Paul Egwuonwu led Montana State with 13.
The Highlanders head out on the road next week for games at Southern Utah on November 23, and Seattle on November 25.
It was the first win of the season for UC Riverside (1-2) and the first in the head coaching career of first-year Head Coach Dennis Cutts.
Johns carried the Highlanders in the first half with 12 points on six-of-eight shooting from the field. The rest of the team was just five for 15 from the floor, but connected on eight of nine from the free throw line.
The Bobcats (0-2) were on fire in the early going making 14 of 26 shots in the first half, but they failed to get to the free throw line in the first, leaving the teams tied at 30 at the break.
During halftime, the Highlanders honored more than 80 of their men's basketball alumni who were back on campus to celebrate the Homecoming weekend. Among those in attendance were former coaches John Masi, Freddie Goss and Dr. Frank Lindeburg as well as All-American Sam Cash '72.
Following a video tribute to UC Riverside's men's basketball history, the former players and coaches were called out by decade to loud applause from the 2,200-plus in attendance (View Reunion Photo Gallery/Watch Video Tribute).
Johns continued his onslaught in the second half scoring 19 points on seven-of-eight shooting from the floor and five of seven from the line. With the score tied at 37 with 15:36 to go in the game, Johns scored on consecutive layups to give the Highlanders a lead they would never relinquish.
A 9-0 UCR run that ended with a Johns dunk and a free throw with 4:08 on the clock gave the Highlanders a 12-point lead—their largest of the evening. The Bobcats cut the UC Riverside advantage to four on three occasions, but the Highlanders held on, sending their fans home happy.
Steven Thornton joined Johns in double digits scoring 11 points while Paul Egwuonwu led Montana State with 13.
The Highlanders head out on the road next week for games at Southern Utah on November 23, and Seattle on November 25.
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