Saturday, November 23
Cedar City, UT
6:30 PM
UC Riverside
74
at
59
Southern Utah
Photo by: Carlos Puma
Patton (21), Thornton (20) Record Season Highs In 74-59 Road Win At Southern Utah
11/23/2013 8:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cedar City, UT—UC Riverside scored 13 of the first 15 points after halftime, turning a three-point advantage into a 14-point lead, and never looked back Saturday evening as the Highlanders evened their record at 2-2 on the year with an 74-59 road win at Southern Utah (Box Score/Audio Highlights). That 15-point margin of victory is the largest non-conference road margin in the Division I history of the program.
Five different players scored during the decisive run, led by Chris Patton's five. The senior center finished with a season-high 21 on the night making nine of 18 shots from the floor.
The Highlanders didn't let off the gas, as UC Riverside ran off nine straight points midway through the period to take a 21-point lead, 60-39, with 10:53 to go. Southern Utah was never able to get closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Defense played an important role in the victory as the Highlanders forced 17 turnovers on the night leading to 22 UC Riverside points.
Steven Thornton added a career-high 20 points for UCR, and Taylor Johns recorded his fourth straight double digit scoring effort finishing with 10.
The game began unusually as the Highlanders were whistled for a technical foul more than 20 minutes before tip off. It was an administrative technical issued for dunking during pregame warmups. Trey Kennedy hit one of two free throws for Southern Utah, and the teams moved to the jump circle to begin the game.
UC Riverside struggled from the field early making just three of nine shots prior to the first media timeout. The Highlanders did, however, force five Thunderbirds turnovers during that span, and Johns' free throw with 15:16 to go in the first cut the SUU advantage to 10-9.
Southern Utah scored the next five points, and nine of the next 10, though, and the Highlanders went more than four minutes without making a shot from the floor.
Patton's fastbreak layup with 11:38 ended the streak, and Austin Quick followed with a fastbreak layup of his own on the next Thunderbirds' possession. He was fouled on the play, and converted the free throw to make it a 19-16 ballgame.
After Kennedy hit one of two free throws, Thornton converted on a fastbreak layup reducing the lead to two. The teams traded baskets on their next two possessions, but following another T'Birds turnover, Thornton drained a three to put the Highlanders back on top, 23-22, with 7:42 to go.
The score was tied at 24 with 6:35 on the clock, when UCR ran off six straight to take its largest lead of the half, 30-24. The Highlanders held on to the lead for the remainder of the period, and led, 36-33, heading into the locker room at half time.
The Highlander remain on the road as they bus to Las Vegas after the game before flying to Seattle for a Monday, November 25 meeting with the Redhawks. Tip is slated for 7 pm PT.
Five different players scored during the decisive run, led by Chris Patton's five. The senior center finished with a season-high 21 on the night making nine of 18 shots from the floor.
The Highlanders didn't let off the gas, as UC Riverside ran off nine straight points midway through the period to take a 21-point lead, 60-39, with 10:53 to go. Southern Utah was never able to get closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Defense played an important role in the victory as the Highlanders forced 17 turnovers on the night leading to 22 UC Riverside points.
Steven Thornton added a career-high 20 points for UCR, and Taylor Johns recorded his fourth straight double digit scoring effort finishing with 10.
The game began unusually as the Highlanders were whistled for a technical foul more than 20 minutes before tip off. It was an administrative technical issued for dunking during pregame warmups. Trey Kennedy hit one of two free throws for Southern Utah, and the teams moved to the jump circle to begin the game.
UC Riverside struggled from the field early making just three of nine shots prior to the first media timeout. The Highlanders did, however, force five Thunderbirds turnovers during that span, and Johns' free throw with 15:16 to go in the first cut the SUU advantage to 10-9.
Southern Utah scored the next five points, and nine of the next 10, though, and the Highlanders went more than four minutes without making a shot from the floor.
Patton's fastbreak layup with 11:38 ended the streak, and Austin Quick followed with a fastbreak layup of his own on the next Thunderbirds' possession. He was fouled on the play, and converted the free throw to make it a 19-16 ballgame.
After Kennedy hit one of two free throws, Thornton converted on a fastbreak layup reducing the lead to two. The teams traded baskets on their next two possessions, but following another T'Birds turnover, Thornton drained a three to put the Highlanders back on top, 23-22, with 7:42 to go.
The score was tied at 24 with 6:35 on the clock, when UCR ran off six straight to take its largest lead of the half, 30-24. The Highlanders held on to the lead for the remainder of the period, and led, 36-33, heading into the locker room at half time.
The Highlander remain on the road as they bus to Las Vegas after the game before flying to Seattle for a Monday, November 25 meeting with the Redhawks. Tip is slated for 7 pm PT.
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