UCRMBB Chidom Shoot
Carlos Puma
64
Cal Poly CPO 4-14,1-3 Big West
97
Winner UC Riverside UCR 13-8,3-2 Big West
Cal Poly CPO
4-14,1-3 Big West
64
Final
97
UC Riverside UCR
13-8,3-2 Big West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cal Poly CPO 29 35 64
UC Riverside UCR 48 49 97

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball Cruises Past Cal Poly, 97-64, Makes 16 Threes En Route to Victory

Presented by Altura Credit Union

Altura Credit Union

RIVERSIDE, Calif — Getting back their defensive resilience and using early post touches to open up the outside, UC Riverside held a 19-point halftime lead, led by as many as 39 and beat Cal Poly in a 97-64 route Thursday night at the SRC Arena.
 
The Highlanders (13-8, 3-2) set a team record for Big West Conference play and tied the mark for fourth-most made three-pointers in program history against the Mustangs (4-14, 1-3). Cal Poly entered the game allowing only 61.3 points defensively in Big West play, but that didn't stop UCR from shooting 16-for-30 from beyond the arc (53 percent). Meanwhile, UCR limited the visitors to 37 percent shooting from the field.
 
Arinze Chidom was the game's high scorer and rebounder, with 18 points (6-for-6 FT) and 9 boards to go with 2 blocks. The redshirt junior transfer also contributed two of the team's 16 three-pointers, a bonanza that included 4 apiece from Khyber Kabellis (4-for-6 3pt, 12 points, 6 assists) and Dragan Elkaz (14 pts).
 
Cal Poly was led by 16 points and 7 rebounds from Junior Ballard, but never threatened after UCR answered an early 7-0 run by the Mustangs with a 9-0 run of its own, holding the visitors without a basket for almost five minutes to pull away in the first half.
 
The win, which moves the Highlanders into a tie with Cal State Northridge for third place in the conference, stopped a two-game conference losing streak that knocked the Highlanders from the top spot they held in the Big West after week one.
 
Thursday night's win showed plenty of the same kind of promise the team displayed at the beginning of conference play.
 
"We've always stuck to it, whether it's wins or losses,". said Chidom. "Everybody has the opportunity to score, we believe in each other and we go in with that attitude every day."
 
Next up for UC Riverside is a trip to UC Santa Barbara scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, to be shown on ESPN3. The Highlanders then return home to host Long Beach State at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30.
 
"After a topsy turvy week in the Big West, we said that somebody's got to step up," said head coach David Patrick. "We followed the game plan and responded defensively, got some paint touches in the post, which is our strength. Our spirits were up. After we established touches inside, our big guys did a good job getting it out to the guys. I thought that really set the tone for us tonight."
 
Notes
 
Both teams participated in an awareness drive for Coaches vs. Cancer Thursday at SRC Arena. The coaching staffs of both teams wore distinctive sneakers, head coaches wore matching ties and the Highlanders donned "UC Riverside vs. Cancer" t-shirts on the bench to bring awareness to the organization that has raised over $100 million in the fight against cancer. "The fans were great tonight," said head coach David Patrick. "What a great cause and I'm glad everyone showed up."
 
First-year Cal Poly head coach John Smith returned to a warm welcome in Riverside, where his family still resides. Coach Smith, whose career includes 10 years at the helm of Riverside City College, had over 100 friends and family members in attendance. Said UCR head coach David Patrick of coach Smith: "I'm so happy for him and Cal Poly because they got not only a good coach, but a good guy."
 
The Highlanders trimmed Cal Poly's all-time series advantage to one-game, with 51 wins and 50 losses for the Mustangs, following Thursday's win for UCR.