Portland, OR—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team tips off its 2016-17 season on Friday as the Highlanders travel to Portland for a 7 pm PT game against the Pilots. UCR then returns to the SRC Arena, Sunday, for its home opener—a 2 pm tip against Bristol University.
The Highlanders return three starters from a year ago, led by senior Secean Johnson. Johnson was third on the team in scoring last season, averaging 12.1 points per game. He is also the team's top returning rebounder (5.8), and led the squad in free throws made (124) and attempted (165).
Senior Malik Thames (6.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists) is also back this season after playing 31 games and starting 17 a year ago, as is junior Alex Larsson (4.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 50.4 FG%), who started 32 of 33 games during his sophomore campaign.
Former Arizona State guard Chance Murray, who had to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, will see his first action with the Highlanders this weekend, as will local Riverside product freshman Dikymbe Martin.
Portland is coming off of a 12-20 campaign a year ago, and made a coaching change during the offseason as 17-year NBA start Terry Porter assumed the head coaching duties in April of 2016.
The Pilots return their top scorer from a year ago in Alex Wintering. The senior averaged 18.3 points per game in 2015-16, making 39.8 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, and 78.0 percent from the charity stripe. Wintering was also Portland's leading assist man a year ago with 158.
This is the first meeting all-time between the teams, but the first since the 2005-06 season (
view results). The Pilots won each of the previous four games.
