UCRMBB Challenging Shot
56
UC Riverside UCR 7-4,0-0 Big West
70
Winner Washington St. WSU 6-4,0-0 Pac-12
UC Riverside UCR
7-4,0-0 Big West
56
Final
70
Washington St. WSU
6-4,0-0 Pac-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Riverside UCR 24 32 56
Washington St. WSU 27 43 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Turnovers Costly To Highlanders In Loss At Washington State

Presented by Altura Credit Union

PULLMAN, WA— With another "Power 5" conference opponent on the road, the Highlanders were hoping for another victory, but this time, turnovers cost them a win versus their PAC-12 opponent, Washington State.

Washington State (6-4, 0-0) handled UC Riverside (7-4, 0-0), securing a 70-56 win with blizzard-like conditions outside of Beasley Arena. The Cougars started off hot from the get go, connecting on three-straight three-pointers, putting the Highlanders in the hole 9-0. The Highlanders battled back thanks to Angus McWilliam's 10 first half points and four rebounds to get within three as UCR went into halftime down, 27-24.

The second half looked like the Cougars would run away with an easy victory as the Highlanders didn't get a shot off during a three-minute stretch, committing six turnovers on the first six possessions to start the half.

In fact, UCR didn't score their first basket until the 15:15 mark of the second half, as they went down ten, before Dkymbe Martin checked into the game. In less than a minute, behind Martin, the Highlanders tied the game with 14:06 left in the second half. Martin made an immediate impact making a three-pointer, two free-throws and assisted on the next two possessions, but that wouldn't last. The Cougars proved to be too much in Pullman as they forced the Highlanders into a season-high, 23 turnovers as the lead ballooned to 19 late in the game.

Head coach David Patrick said of his team, "I feel we competed for the most part for forty minutes, but the execution was bad in terms of turning the ball over 23 times. We haven't turned the ball over that much all year. Kudos to Washington State for their pressure, which we addressed to our team all week, but it's tough to simulate that in practice, but I feel we competed. We just need to take better care of the basketball."

Those 23 turnovers did cost the Highlanders as the Cougars scored 24 points off of the UCR miscues. Many of those points came in transition, as the Cougars had 16 fast break points to cripple the Highlanders. UCR did however, manage to out-rebound their PAC-12 opponent 33-31 and outshot the Cougars on going 21-47 (45%) from the floor, but just 6 of 21 from beyond the arc.

The Highlanders were led by McWilliam's career high 13 points and six rebounds. George Willborn III was the only other player with double figures tonight with 11, going 4 of 4 from the field, but just 2 of 7 from the free-throw line. Khy Kabellis also grabbed a season high seven rebounds for the Highlanders in the loss.

UCR returns to action on Thursday, December 19 at home versus Northern Arizona University at 7pm in the Student Recreation Center Arena, for "Fill the Cruiser" night, helping local children with toys and gifts this holiday season.