Zyon Pullin Layup 2019
Carlos Puma
51
UC Riverside UCR 2-2,0-0 Big West
58
Winner Pacific UOP 4-2,0-0 WCC
UC Riverside UCR
2-2,0-0 Big West
51
Final
58
Pacific UOP
4-2,0-0 WCC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Riverside UCR 28 23 51
Pacific UOP 28 30 58

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball Falls Late at Pacific

Presented by Altura Credit Union

Altura Credit Union

STOCKTON, Calif.—An all-around strong performance by a young Highlander team was upstaged Sunday night as host Pacific made a late run to take the game 58-51. UC Riverside held an early lead, but the older, experienced Tigers played better down the stretch a found its largest lead of the game with under a minute to go to remain undefeated at home.

With this loss, UCR drops to an even 2-2 overall with a 1-2 record on the road while UOP improved to 4-2 in the early season.

The Highlanders came out firing on offense as former Tiger, senior Khy Kabellis, and sophomore Dragan Elkaz willed the team to an early 8-2 lead thanks to a pair of threes and a great driving bucket by Kabellis. UCR continued to control the game leading for 12 minutes in the first half and seeing six different players drop in buckets.

The team shot a potent 42.3% in te first period including a 5-for-13 mark from beyond the arc, but the host Tigers would find their way back by the time the buzzer sounded tying it at 28-28 after 20 minutes.

UCR led by as much as five in the second period, but saw too many turnovers, missed box outs, and careless plays late in the game and UOP took advantage. Led by a big senior guard in Jahlil Tripp, who topped all scorers with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting, Pacific extended its late lead to 10 with under a minute to go and held on for the win.

Freshman Zyon Pullin took charge in his important role off the bench as an athletic guard scoring a career-high 14 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. His only downfall was a poor 4-for-8 mark from the free throw line.

Elkaz followed with 10 points thanks to his three triples, one of which went for a four-point play. Sophomore Callum McRae nearly saw another double-double totaling eight points and 10 boards. Junior George Willborn III did his job on the glass with nine rebounds but could not buy a bucket going scoreless for the first time this season.

The Highlanders cooled off in the second half with their field goal percentage for the game dropping to 35.2% compared to the Tigers' impressive 43.1%.

UCR comes up empty in its two-game road trip in Northern California but looks to bounce back with a four-game home stand awaiting in the next two weeks. The first game is set for this Thursday vs Redlands at 4 PM as the early matchup in an SRC Arena double-header with Women's Basketball.