UCRMBB Chidom
Carlos Puma
63
UC Riverside UCR 14-13,4-7 Big West
65
Winner Long Beach St. LBSU 9-17,4-6 Big West
UC Riverside UCR
14-13,4-7 Big West
63
Final
65
Long Beach St. LBSU
9-17,4-6 Big West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
UC Riverside UCR 23 34 6 63
Long Beach St. LBSU 23 34 8 65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Highlanders Fall to Long Beach in OT, 65-63

Presented by Altura Credit Union

Altura Credit Union
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The UC Riverside Highlanders suffered another heartbreaking loss on Saturday night, February 15, this time the Walter Pyramid provided the backdrop as Long Beach State guard Michael Carter III knocked down a jumper from just inside the arc on the left wing with two seconds remaining in overtime, to lift The Beach to a 65-63 over UCR. With the defeat, UCR and Long Beach State (9-17, 4-6) split the season series.

The Highlanders (14-12, 4-7) were just 2-for-8 from the field in the overtime period — the majority of which they competed without the services of junior forward Arinze Chidom, who fouled out with 2:41 left in overtime, but not before Chidom recorded a double-double (14 points and 11 rebounds). The 14 points were tied for a UCR high on the night along with senior guard Dikymbe Martin. Chidom was a spark plug, scoring eight of his 14 after intermission.


"We're a different team when he's not on the floor," head coach David Patrick said of Chidom. "So, we need him there but he made some big plays and his ability to space the floor and shoot the basketball helps us."

Chidom got an offensive rebound and a put back with 1:05 left in regulation to tie the game 55-55. Long Beach State then went back in front after a pair of free throws by Chance Hunter with 51 seconds to play. Sophomore center Callum McRae forced overtime on a layup with just one second remaining in regulation, tying the game for the Highlanders, 57-57.  

In the OT, Hunter scored five in a row, including a controversial three-pointer, to lift The Beach to a 69-52 lead with just under two minutes to play. Hunter's three was one of two plays that either the Highlander staff asked to be reviewed or officials wanted to review but couldn't because the replay system was down.

"That's not why we lost," Patrick said of the replay system malfunctioning. "I think we beat ourselves by turning the ball over and you go 5-for-9 from the free throw line. You make two more of them and you come away maybe with a one-point win as opposed to going down by two at the buzzer."

With 35 seconds left, Carter III had an opportunity to put The Beach back up by three but split a pair at the foul line. On the ensuing possession, UCR senior guard Khyber Kabellis tied the game, 63-63, with a layup with 25 seconds to play before Carter III's eventual game-winner ended the Highlanders chances to emerge victorious. 

The Highlanders shot 47 percent from the field, aided by a 56 percent mark in the first half while holding Long Beach State to just 33 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes, yet were tied 23-23 at halftime largely due to 12 first half turnovers. The Beach capitalized with 13 points off turnovers in the first half despite not making a field goal until the 12:18 mark of the half. UCR forced Long Beach State to miss its first eight shots but could only get ahead by as many as eight points.  

"Their bench came in and did well," Patrick said. "It kind of got them going. You know they're a good team and they're not going to quit. I think during that span is when the ball started getting turned over. Those plays in the first half come back to bite you in the second half and overtime."

UCR returns home to the SRC Arena to host Hawai'i on Thursday, February 20. The action begins at 7:45pm on GoHighlanders.com.
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