Thursday, January 23
Riverside, CA
7:00 PM
University of California, Riverside
65
vs
68
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Carlos Puma
Men's Basketball Forces Overtime, But UC Santa Barbara Ekes Out 68-65 Victory
1/23/2014 11:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team found itself in familiar territory Thursday evening, trailing by 17 points before sending the game into overtime, but UC Santa Barbara hit six of nine free throws in the extra period to eke out a 68-65 victory over the Highlanders (Box Score).
The Gauchos (12-5, 3-1) closed the first period on a 16-6 run, and scored the first six points coming out of the break to turn a one-point lead into a 17-point advantage with 17:11 remaining in the game. That's when UC Riverside (6-13, 1-3) began another one of its trademark comebacks.
Over the next eight minutes and 54 seconds, the Highlanders outscored UC Santa Barbara 26-9 to tie the score at 50. Sam Finley capped off the run making all three free throws after getting fouled on a three-pointer. He scored nine points during the run while Chris Patton added six, and Taylor Johns and Steven Jones each chipped in with five apiece.
Taran Brown put the Gauchos back on top with a three-pointer, but Finley countered with a three ball of his own to knot the score again.
UC Riverside couldn't quite get over the hump, and UC Santa Barbara led by six with 2:16 on the clock. A Patton jumper at the 1:45 mark made it a four-point game. Following a missed jumper by Alan Williams, Finley drilled a jumper with 1:01 to go to slice the lead to two. He was fouled on the play, and made the subsequent free throw to make the score 60-59 Gauchos.
Michael Bryson had his jumper blocked by Johns on UCSB's next possession, giving the Highlanders the ball with 26 seconds remaining. Following a UCR timeout, Jones launched a three-pointer with eight seconds remaining, but it was hard off the rim. Johns Grabbed the board, and was fouled by Williams, sending the Highlanders' leading scorer to the free throw line with five seconds to go and a chance to win the game.
Johns made the first free throw, and the Gauchos called time out to try and freeze him. His next shot was off the mark, however, and the team's headed into overtime.
UC Santa Barbara scored the first four points of the extra period, all from the free throw line, while the Highlanders missed four shots and committed one turnover. Finley and Patton kept UC Riverside close as Finley made three free throws and Patton converted on a jumper in the lane.
Trailing by three, the Highlanders had a shot at the buzzer to tie the game, but Finley's three-pointer came up short, and the Gauchos escaped with the win.
Finley scored 18 of his 20 points after the intermission, and Patton led all scorers with a season-high 23 points on 10 of 13 shooting. Williams, the leading scorer in the conference, netted 21, while Mitch Brewer (11), Zalmico Harmon (11) and Kyle Boswell (10) also reached double figures.
After shooting just 38.5 percent in the first half, the Highlanders connected on 12 of 19 shots (63.2%) in the second. Overall, UCR made 20 of 30 shots from inside the arc, but only three of 21 from downtown.
UC Riverside remains at home this weekend as the Highlanders host Cal Poly on Saturday, January 25 for a 7 pm PT tip at the SRC Arena.
The Gauchos (12-5, 3-1) closed the first period on a 16-6 run, and scored the first six points coming out of the break to turn a one-point lead into a 17-point advantage with 17:11 remaining in the game. That's when UC Riverside (6-13, 1-3) began another one of its trademark comebacks.
Over the next eight minutes and 54 seconds, the Highlanders outscored UC Santa Barbara 26-9 to tie the score at 50. Sam Finley capped off the run making all three free throws after getting fouled on a three-pointer. He scored nine points during the run while Chris Patton added six, and Taylor Johns and Steven Jones each chipped in with five apiece.
Taran Brown put the Gauchos back on top with a three-pointer, but Finley countered with a three ball of his own to knot the score again.
UC Riverside couldn't quite get over the hump, and UC Santa Barbara led by six with 2:16 on the clock. A Patton jumper at the 1:45 mark made it a four-point game. Following a missed jumper by Alan Williams, Finley drilled a jumper with 1:01 to go to slice the lead to two. He was fouled on the play, and made the subsequent free throw to make the score 60-59 Gauchos.
Michael Bryson had his jumper blocked by Johns on UCSB's next possession, giving the Highlanders the ball with 26 seconds remaining. Following a UCR timeout, Jones launched a three-pointer with eight seconds remaining, but it was hard off the rim. Johns Grabbed the board, and was fouled by Williams, sending the Highlanders' leading scorer to the free throw line with five seconds to go and a chance to win the game.
Johns made the first free throw, and the Gauchos called time out to try and freeze him. His next shot was off the mark, however, and the team's headed into overtime.
UC Santa Barbara scored the first four points of the extra period, all from the free throw line, while the Highlanders missed four shots and committed one turnover. Finley and Patton kept UC Riverside close as Finley made three free throws and Patton converted on a jumper in the lane.
Trailing by three, the Highlanders had a shot at the buzzer to tie the game, but Finley's three-pointer came up short, and the Gauchos escaped with the win.
Finley scored 18 of his 20 points after the intermission, and Patton led all scorers with a season-high 23 points on 10 of 13 shooting. Williams, the leading scorer in the conference, netted 21, while Mitch Brewer (11), Zalmico Harmon (11) and Kyle Boswell (10) also reached double figures.
After shooting just 38.5 percent in the first half, the Highlanders connected on 12 of 19 shots (63.2%) in the second. Overall, UCR made 20 of 30 shots from inside the arc, but only three of 21 from downtown.
UC Riverside remains at home this weekend as the Highlanders host Cal Poly on Saturday, January 25 for a 7 pm PT tip at the SRC Arena.
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