San Luis Obispo, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team will try to even its Big West record at 3-3 this Saturday as the Highlanders travel to Cal Poly for a 7 pm PT tip against the Mustangs.
UCR fell below the .500 mark Thursday with an 83-75 loss at UC Santa Barbara (
box score/
recap). Jaylen Bland led four Highlanders in double figures, but the Gauchos connected on 51.7 percent of their shots including eight of 13 from long range to secure the win.
Jaylen Bland continues his assault on the Highlanders single season three-pointers chart and is on pace to make 101 through a 31-game season which would break the current mark of 100 set by Maurice Pullum in 1988-89.
Taylor Johns continues to pace UC Riverside in scoring and rebounding averaging 15.8 points an 8.2 boards per game. Steven Thornton has emerged as the team's third scoring option, averaging 12.8 points over his last 12 games including 14.6 points per game in five conference tilts.
Cal Poly improved to 9-8 overall and 2-3 in conference Thursday with a 66-55 home win over Cal State Fullerton. As has been the case for several seasons now, defense is the Mustangs calling card. They hold the opposition to 58.5 points per game thanks to 40.0 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range.
Offensively Cal Poly has struggled in all but two key areas. They shoot 38.0 percent from the field and 27.6 percent from long distance, but they turn the ball over just 8.6 times per game, and are the second best offensive rebounding club in Big West play.
The Highlanders are 44-46 all-time against the Mustangs (
view results). The teams split their two meetings a year ago with UC Riverside winning 61-58 at the SRC Arena, and Cal Poly picking up a 69-64 victory at Mott Athletics Center (
box score/
recap).
