Fullerton, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team looks to continue its winning ways this week with a road trip to Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday, January 18 at 7 pm PT, followed by a Saturday, January 21 home game vs. UC Santa Barbara at 4 pm. Both games are being broadcast around the world via ESPN3.
The Highlanders picked up their first Big West win of the season, Thursday, with a 61-55 victory over UC Davis (
box score/
recap). Secean Johnson and Malik Thames led the way with 13 points apiece, but it was UC Riverside's defense that made the difference. The Highlanders held the Aggies to 29.2 percent shooting from the field, which is the lowest field goal percentage for one of UCR's Division I opponents since Air Force connected on just 29.0 percent of its shots on December 14, 2013.
UC Riverside has turned its fortunes around over its last four games on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Over the first 10 games of the season, the Highlanders scored 63.2 points per game, and made 36.9 percent of their shots. Since then, they are averaging 69.0 points and connecting on 47.0 percent of their shots.
Defensively, UCR gave up 74.9 points per game throughout the first 10 games of the season, and allowed opponents to make 47.5 percent of their shots. Over the last four games, the opposition is averaging 65.8 points per game, and making 36.3 percent of their shots.
Johnson leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Chance Murray is also scoring in double figures, averaging 10.6 points per game, followed by Gentrey Thomas (9.9) and Malik Thames (9.3).
Cal State Fullerton is 8-9 on the season and 2-2 in conference following an 87-67 loss at UC Irvine Saturday evening. Tré Coggins leads the team averaging 18.6 points per game, but the Anteaters held him to three points over the weekend—his lowest scoring output of the year.
Khalil Ahmad (12.3 ppg) and Lionheart Leslie (11.6 ppg) are also averaging in double figures for the Titans, who have the second highest scoring average in the league at 76.6 points per game. Jackson Rowe makes 59.4 percent of his shots from the field, which is the second best mark in the Big West.
Fullerton opponents are connecting on just 41.7 percent of their shots from the floor—the second lowest percentage in the conference.
The Highlanders are 21-28 all-time against the Titans, but have won four of the past five meetings between the clubs.
UC Santa Barbara improved to 3-12 on Saturday with a 58-53 win over Cal Poly. The Gauchos travel to Long Beach State Thursday before making their way to the Inland Empire.
UCSB is averaging a league low 63.7 points per game, and ranks last in the Big West in field goal percentage (.371), three-point field goal percentage (.280), and steals per game (4.8). The Gauchos also rank last in three of those categories against conference opponents, scoring 55.7 points per game while making 37.0 percent of their shots and 23.8 percent of their three-pointers against Big West foes.
Gabe Vincent leads UC Santa Barbara in scoring at 15.1 points per game, followed by Jalen Canty's at 10.2. Canty connects on 55.1 percent of his field goal attempts—the fifth highest percentage in the conference.
The Highlanders are 8-31 all-time against the Gauchos, but 8-9 at home.
