Fullerton, CA—In his first game at the helm of the Highlanders, Interim Head Coach Justin Bell inserted DJ Sylvester into the starting lineup Wednesday evening, and the move paid dividends immediately as the sophomore guard poured in a career-high 24 points. Unfortunately, Cal State Fullerton scored on an old-fashioned three-point play with 7.1 seconds to go to eke out a 68-65 victory in the Big West opener for both clubs.

KEY RUNS
Trailing 54-48 with 13:32 to go in the second half, the Highlanders kept the Titans out of the scoring column for more than six minutes to go up 59-54. But UC Riverside missed seven of its final eight shots down the stretch, which allowed Cal State Fullerton to pick up the win.

GAME NOTES
DJ Sylvester scored a career-high 24 points, making all five of his three-pointers and all five of his free throws. His 24 poitns are the third most by a member of the Highlanders this season (Dikymbe Martin, 30 vs. Valparaiso on Dec. 20; Chance Murray, 25 at Utah Valley on Dec. 28).

Sylvester made just his third start of the season. His first two came back on November 22 vs. Western New Mexico, and November 26 at Michigan.

The last time a member of the Highlanders made more than five threes in a game, was in 2015-16 when Jaylen Bland made six or more tres on three occasions.

The 10 made three pointers by the Highlanders are their most in a game this season. The last time UC Riverside made more than 10 threes in a game was on March 10, 2016 vs. Long Beach State.

The Highlanders have allowed four opponents to make 50-percent or more of their field goals this season: at Michigan (.540), at Montana (.500), at Utah Valley (.544) and at Cal State Fullerton (.540).

UC Riverside held the Titans to just 13 free throw attempts. Cal State Fullerton averaged 26.2 free throw attempts per game coming into the evening.