RIVERSIDE, Calif.—Saturday night marked the final showing for the UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team at the SRC Arena in the 2018-2019 season, but unfortunately the Highlanders could not slow a top-seeded UC Irvine team that has already clinched the Big West crown. The UCR defense would hold the Anteaters to under 70 points, but in the end UCI emerged on top 68-47.

"UC Irvine is a great defensive team and they showed that tonight," Head Coach David Patrick. "We played solid defense too, giving their guys tough shots, but we committed too many turnovers and that set the tone."

Before the game seniors Menno Dijkstra and Ryker Pierce, as well as head manager Corey Boyle, were honored in a senior night celebration before taking the court for the final time in Riverside.

Yet another new starting five combo took the floor for the Highlanders Saturday night as Dijkstra and Pierce both earned the start in their final game at the SRC Arena. This would mark the first career start for Pierce as he and Dijkstra joined junior Dikymbe Martin, sophomore Dominick Pickett, and freshman Callum McRae.

As if it were scripted, Dijkstra came out and put UCR on the board with a three pointer for the team's first bucket. 

"Having Menno in my first year as a head coach has meant a lot to me, because he has truly been a leader on and of court for us," Patrick said. "Since I have been here he has bought into everything I have asked of him. To have him as the foundation of what we're trying to build means the future is bright because they have seen him and Ryker carry themselves the right way."

The Highlander offense struggled out of the gates taking nearly 10 minutes to put 10 points on the board, but the team's push in the remainder of the period would keep them close enough heading into the locker rooms down 36-27.

The two teams remained close for much of the second half, as the Highlanders held UCI to a 1-for-10 mark from beyond the arc but 10 second half turnovers would takeaway the chance at a comeback.

UCI's lead would eventually grow towards the end of the game as the team pulled away to a 68-47 win.

McRae finished with his third straight double-double collecting 11 points and 12 rebounds on 5-pf-12 shooting from the field. Freshman Dragan Elkaz added 12 points  hitting three triples in the contest.

The Highlanders will now enter the final week of the regular season where they will face Long Beach State and UC Davis on the road.