Friday, December 20
Riverside, CA
7:00 PM
University of California, Riverside
57
vs
56
Illinois Chicago
Photo by: Carlos Puma
Gruninger's Lay Up With 2.6 Seconds Remaining Gives Men's Hoops 57-56 Win Over UIC
12/20/2013 10:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—Nick Gruninger's layup with 2.6 seconds remaining Friday evening put the UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team up 57-56, and UIC's Kelsey Barlow's three-pointer as the buzzer sounded rattled around the rim before falling harmlessly to the floor to help the Highlanders secure the one-point victory (box score/watch the game-winning basket).
UC Riverside (4-6) appeared to take control of the game late in the first as they used a 12-2 run to turn a three-point deficit into a seven-point lead at the half. Chris Patton and Taylor Johns dominated inside for the Highlanders combining for 22 points and 11 rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play.
The UCR defense clamped down on Flames (5-7) leading scorer Kelsey Barlow in the first, as the senior guard, who came into the game averaging 16.3 points per contest, but the Highlanders limited him to just three shots and four points in the first.
UC Riverside secured its largest lead of the game with 3:55 gone in the second as Sam Finley's free throw made it a 10-point Highlanders advantage, 40-30. That's when UCR went cold, though, as the Highlanders missed three shots and committed two turnovers over the next four minutes as the Flames went on a 14-3 run. Barlow scored nine points in the run on his way to a game-high 17.
Neither team led by more the four points the rest of the way, as the lead changed hands five times. It was a 55-54 UCR lead with 3:09 to go when the Highlanders went into keep-away mode. The Flames managed just one shot over a three minute span as UC Riverside forced two turnovers and grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds.
Barlow scored the last of his 17 points with nine seconds remaining to put UIC back on top, 56-55. After the Flames called a pair of timeouts, Gruninger took the inbound pass across the timeline, and went coast to coast for the win.
Patton led the Highlanders with 15 points, while Johns added 12 and Gruninger chipped in with 11.
The Highlanders remain at home this weekend as they host Northern Illinois on Sunday, December 22 beginning at 2 pm.
UC Riverside (4-6) appeared to take control of the game late in the first as they used a 12-2 run to turn a three-point deficit into a seven-point lead at the half. Chris Patton and Taylor Johns dominated inside for the Highlanders combining for 22 points and 11 rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play.
The UCR defense clamped down on Flames (5-7) leading scorer Kelsey Barlow in the first, as the senior guard, who came into the game averaging 16.3 points per contest, but the Highlanders limited him to just three shots and four points in the first.
UC Riverside secured its largest lead of the game with 3:55 gone in the second as Sam Finley's free throw made it a 10-point Highlanders advantage, 40-30. That's when UCR went cold, though, as the Highlanders missed three shots and committed two turnovers over the next four minutes as the Flames went on a 14-3 run. Barlow scored nine points in the run on his way to a game-high 17.
Neither team led by more the four points the rest of the way, as the lead changed hands five times. It was a 55-54 UCR lead with 3:09 to go when the Highlanders went into keep-away mode. The Flames managed just one shot over a three minute span as UC Riverside forced two turnovers and grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds.
Barlow scored the last of his 17 points with nine seconds remaining to put UIC back on top, 56-55. After the Flames called a pair of timeouts, Gruninger took the inbound pass across the timeline, and went coast to coast for the win.
Patton led the Highlanders with 15 points, while Johns added 12 and Gruninger chipped in with 11.
The Highlanders remain at home this weekend as they host Northern Illinois on Sunday, December 22 beginning at 2 pm.
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
