UCRMBB vs Denver
83
Winner UC Riverside UCR 2-1,0-0 Big West
63
Denver Denver 1-1,0-0 Summit League
Winner
UC Riverside UCR
2-1,0-0 Big West
83
Final
63
Denver Denver
1-1,0-0 Summit League
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Riverside UCR 48 35 83
Denver Denver 29 34 63

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Highlanders Dominate Denver, 83-63, With Defense & Hot Shooting

Presented by Altura Credit Union

Altura Credit Union
DENVER, Colo. – UC Riverside traveled to Colorado on Sunday, December 6, 2020, to take on the Denver University Pioneers in a Big West Conference vs. Summit League matchup on the Pioneers' home court of Hamilton Gymnasium. The Pioneers entered the game looking to avenge a 73-49 loss to the Highlanders just a year ago in UCR's SRC Arena, while UCR looked to continue building on the momentum generated from their 57-42 win over the University of Washington just five days ago on December 1, 2020, in Las Vegas. 

The Highlanders' trademark defense was on full display from the jump, holding the Pioneers to just 12 points through the first 10 minutes of the first half. Offensively, UCR got off to a quick start as Zyon Pullin (in what would prove to be a foreshadowing of his total point production to come) slashed his way to the rim to find the first points of the game for UCR. Arinze Chidom would follow-up with a steal and go almost the full length of the court, finishing with a two-handed slam. Immediately afterward, Pullin would find his way to the basket again, giving UCR a 6-0 lead inside the first two minutes of the contest.

Denver would counter with back-to-back buckets, cutting their opponents early lead to 6-4. But that would be as close as the Pioneers could keep the score as Pullin would respond for the Highlanders, draining his first of four three-pointers on the day and pushing the Highlanders out in front with a lead they would never relinquish from that point forward.  

The Highlanders would proceed to go on a 9-3 run, stretching their lead to double digits (16) and doubling the Pioneers point total, en route to a 32-16 lead with 7:33 remaining in the first half. UCR would double Denver again, running the lead to 17 points, 34-17, with 6:40 remaining in the first half. The scoring onslaught would continue with Daniel Mading's deep three-pointer before Pullin landed another long-range three, putting the Highlanders up 40-23 with just a few minutes remaining in the opening stanza. 

The Highlanders would proceed to take a 19-point lead into halftime, 48-29, behind the team's 18 of 30 shooting from the field and quite the impressive first half from Pullin. The sophomore from Pleasant Hill, California, led the scoring efforts for UCR through the first half on 89% shooting, contributing 20 points on 8 for 9 from the floor (including 4 of 5 from three-point range) along with two rebounds and three assists. 

Denver worked feverishly at the start of the second half to slow down the Highlanders offensive attack. The Pioneers would get the first bucket, but ended up committing four team fouls inside the first 2:30 of the half. In spite of the Pioneers' best efforts, UCR would not be rattled. The Highlanders responded by going on an 11-0 run and pushing their lead to 28 points, 59-31, over the next six minutes of the second half. 

The Pioneers' attempts to chip away at the UCR lead were unsuccessful as the Highlanders suffocating defense and 15 made three-point attempts prevented Denver from closing a double digit gap and what ended up being an insurmountable deficit. "We always lean on our defense and I felt like we did the job we needed to do, especially on the defensive boards." Magapayo added. "In the first half, our team was really connected defensively, you could sense it and feel it. The guys executed the coverages and things fell into place once we stopped fouling early." 

Commenting on the play of Pullin, head coach Mike Magpayo stated, "Zyon controlled the game for us getting our offense popping. When he shoots the ball like that, he is very hard to stop because he can use his strength and quickness driving to the basket. We never take for granted the little things he does such as rebounding and defending. He puts a lot of work into his game and he still has a high ceiling." 

Pullin, who had a career-high 15 points in last year's contest with Denver, topped that this year with a new career high of 22 points, which was also enough for him to lead all scorers in today's game. In addition, teammates Jock Perry (14 points), Arinze Chidom (13 points) and Will Tattersal (12 points) rounded out the double digit scorers for the Highlanders, with Flynn Cameron adding nine points. UCR shot 51.7% on the day, including 47% from three. UCR outrebounded Denver, 38-26, including winning the defensive rebounding battle, 30-21. 

Coach Magpayo was pleased with his team's overall effort in a big win for the program on the road in the Rocky Mountain State. "This was one heck of a team effort," he added. "Guys off the bench helped a ton today, Daniel Mading, George Willborn III and Wil Tattersall provided huge minutes. Wil had four three's off the bench and is really understanding our schemes and becoming a reliable force for us. Dom Pickett and Flynn Cameron were great with well-rounded efforts, and two of our bigs, Jock Perry and Arinze Chidom, provided an early scoring punch to get us going."

The Highlanders will return to Inland Empire for a few days before heading to Flagstaff to face Northern Arizona on Thursday, December 10th.