Box Score Honolulu, HI—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team ran its winning streak to four straight Wednesday evening, overcoming a four-plus minute shooting slump in the second half to upend Hawai'i, 70-64.
The four straight victories in conference play ties the program record for consecutive Big West wins, originally set by the 2010-11 squad. The decision also moved UCR into sole possession of third place in the conference.
Dikymbe Martin led the way for the Highlanders (6-11, 4-2) with 17 points—his highest scoring output since netting a career-high 26 vs. Fresno Pacific on November 19.
Alex Larsson also continued his stretch of inspired play, reaching double figures in scoring (13) for the third straight game, and helping the Highlanders to a 26-14 advantage in points in the paint. The junior center has made 17 of his last 25 shots from the field, and is averaging 12.3 points per game over the last three contests.
The Highlanders scored the first seven points of the night, but the first half saw a dozen lead changes. UC Riverside made 60.0 percent of its shots in the first half, however thanks to 11 first-half turnovers, the Highlanders clung to a 36-34 at the intermission.
The Rainbow Warriors regained the lead for the last time early in the second half, but UC Riverside scored the next seven points to go up 41-35.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Hawai'is Leland Green cut the Highlanders lead in half to 41-38, and that is where the score remained for the next 4:40 as both teams were hampered by prolonged scoring slumps. In all, the teams combined to miss 12 shots during that stretch.
A Brandon Rosser jumper finally ended the drought, and on UC Riverside's next possession, Rosser made a pair of free throws tying the Highlanders' largest lead of the night to that point. A Koh Flippin three-pointer with 10:08 remaining extended the UCR lead to 10, 48-38.
Meanwhile, the Rainbow Warriors' shooting woes continued, as Hawai'i (8-11, 2-4) didn't score their next points until 9:48 to go on a Green jumper. Green connected on a triple on UH's next trip down the floor cutting the lead to five.
The Rainbow Warriors continued their surge, tying the score at 51 with 7:25 remaining, but a Gentrey Thomas layup put the Highlanders back on top. Hawai'i tied the game for the last time with 3:14 on the clock, but UC Riverside continued to bend, but not break, as a Martin layup gave the Highlanders a lead they would never relinquish.
UCR made 50.0 percent of its shots on the night, and are making 47.6 percent of their shots from the field over their last seven games. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Warriors connected on just 40.8 percent from the floor, marking the fourth straight game that the Highlanders held an opponent below 41 percent.
UC Riverside returns home this weekend to host CSUN on Saturday, January 28 at 5 pm PT. The Highlanders are honoring long-time head men's basketball coach John Masi in a ceremony at halftime.
