Thursday, February 6
Riverside, CA
7:00 PM
University of California, Riverside
72
vs
69
Cal State Fullerton
Photo by: Carlos Puma
Patton's 12-Point, 12-Rebound Double-Double Helps Men's Basketball To Win Over Fullerton
2/6/2014 10:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team flipped the script Thursday evening in a 72-69 victory over visiting Cal State Fullerton (box score).
The Highlanders MO for most of the season has been to fall behind early before staging a second-half comeback. On Thursday, it was UC Riverside's turn to get out of the gates quickly as the Highlanders led by as many as 16 in the second half. The Titans climbed back into the game throughout the final 20 minutes of play, taking a one-point lead with 4:21 to go, but UC Riverside hit some key shots down the stretch to secure the win.
UCR made 10 of its first 13 shots from the floor to build a 13-point lead before the second media timeout. The Highlanders would finish the half making 63.0 percent of their shots (17 of 27) and out-rebounding the Titans 17-9 on their way to a 14-point halftime lead.
Steven Jones scored 10 points in the first, while Steven Thornton added nine and Taylor Johns chipped in with eight.
Chris Patton's jumper to start the second half put UC Riverside back up 16, but Cal State Fullerton scored the next 10 points to reduce the lead to six, 43-37, with just 3:31 gone off the clock.
Another Patton jumper ended the run, but Alex Harris sandwiched a pair of threes around a Sam Finley lay up to cut the Highlanders advantage to four.
The teams continued to trade baskets, and following another Harris three ball with 7:03 to go it was still a four-point UC Riverside lead with 7:03 remaining. UC Riverside missed a lay up on its subsequent possession, and Harris made one of two free throws to make it a three-point game.
Two minutes later, a pair of Sheldon Blackwell free throws brought the Titans to within one, 62-61, and after a UCR miss, James Johnson's lay up put Fullerton on top for the first time in the game.
Johns made one of two free throws on the Highlanders next possession to tie the score, and FInley did likewise a-minute-and-a-half later putting UC Riverside back on top for good.
Patton led five members of the Highlanders in double figures with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. Finley recorded his 11th straight double-digit scoring effort with 13 points tying for the team lead in scoring with Johns. Thornton and Jones each finished with 12 points apiece.
The Titans were led by Harris and Michael Williams who tied for game-high scoring honors with 20.
The Highlanders remain at home this weekend as they host Long Beach State on Saturday beginning at 7 pm PT.
The Highlanders MO for most of the season has been to fall behind early before staging a second-half comeback. On Thursday, it was UC Riverside's turn to get out of the gates quickly as the Highlanders led by as many as 16 in the second half. The Titans climbed back into the game throughout the final 20 minutes of play, taking a one-point lead with 4:21 to go, but UC Riverside hit some key shots down the stretch to secure the win.
UCR made 10 of its first 13 shots from the floor to build a 13-point lead before the second media timeout. The Highlanders would finish the half making 63.0 percent of their shots (17 of 27) and out-rebounding the Titans 17-9 on their way to a 14-point halftime lead.
Steven Jones scored 10 points in the first, while Steven Thornton added nine and Taylor Johns chipped in with eight.
Chris Patton's jumper to start the second half put UC Riverside back up 16, but Cal State Fullerton scored the next 10 points to reduce the lead to six, 43-37, with just 3:31 gone off the clock.
Another Patton jumper ended the run, but Alex Harris sandwiched a pair of threes around a Sam Finley lay up to cut the Highlanders advantage to four.
The teams continued to trade baskets, and following another Harris three ball with 7:03 to go it was still a four-point UC Riverside lead with 7:03 remaining. UC Riverside missed a lay up on its subsequent possession, and Harris made one of two free throws to make it a three-point game.
Two minutes later, a pair of Sheldon Blackwell free throws brought the Titans to within one, 62-61, and after a UCR miss, James Johnson's lay up put Fullerton on top for the first time in the game.
Johns made one of two free throws on the Highlanders next possession to tie the score, and FInley did likewise a-minute-and-a-half later putting UC Riverside back on top for good.
Patton led five members of the Highlanders in double figures with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. Finley recorded his 11th straight double-digit scoring effort with 13 points tying for the team lead in scoring with Johns. Thornton and Jones each finished with 12 points apiece.
The Titans were led by Harris and Michael Williams who tied for game-high scoring honors with 20.
The Highlanders remain at home this weekend as they host Long Beach State on Saturday beginning at 7 pm PT.
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