UCRMBB Bench
86
Winner UC Riverside UCR 5-3,2-1 Big West
51
Cal Poly CPO 2-7,0-3 Big West
Winner
UC Riverside UCR
5-3,2-1 Big West
86
Final
51
Cal Poly CPO
2-7,0-3 Big West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Riverside UCR 36 50 86
Cal Poly CPO 37 14 51

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Second Half Three-ball Barrage Lifts UCR Over Cal Poly, 86-51

Presented by Altura Credit Union

Altura Credit Union
San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The UC Riverside Men's Basketball team got past Cal Poly 86-51, thanks to a three-point barrage in the second half.

"I'm always in awe by the attack that our guys approach our road games with. The team stayed very poised and made some adjustments out there that stifled Cal Poly in the second half." said Head Coach Mike Magpayo.

Wil Tattersall scored a career-high 19 points, including 5-7 from three-point range to lead five players in double figures.

The Highlanders got off to a slow start and trailed 16-8 early on. They also had no answer for Alimany Koroma, who had 11 first half points for the Mustangs. UCR would settle in and make six of their final nine shot attempts to get to halftime with just a one-point deficit, 37-36.

The game was tied at 39 apiece when Angus McWilliam scored back-to-back buckets to stake the blue and gold to a four-point lead. The defense locked in and forced a turnover that led to a Wil Tattersall three-pointer, causing Cal Poly, down 46-39, to call a timeout.

Out of the stoppage, UCR collected the Mustangs' miss and once again went to Tattersall, who again connected from deep. Charged up, the Highlanders stole the ball and located a hot Tattersall. The smooth quick shooting lefty confidently buried a third-straight triple, propelling UCR to a 52-39 advantage. Point guard Zyon Pullin did well to find the hot hand as he assisted on each of Tattersall's three consecutive makes.

Cal Poly responded with four straight points, when Arinze Chidom got it on the three-point party from the top of the key. "I thought Arinze got us going getting to the basket early and then the collective ball movement from our guys took us over the top." said Magpayo.

Jock Perry made his presence known when the Mustangs got to within 10, 55-45. The 7-1 center scored on a put back, a three-ball and from the line to restore UCR order in the form of a 61-45 lead. The Highlanders carried that momentum throughout the remainder of the second half and cruised to an 86-51 victory.

UC Riverside outscored Cal Poly 50-14 in the second half, holding Koroma to just four points in the final 20 minutes, as he finished with 15 to lead Cal Poly. Coach Magpayo on the all-around team performance, "Jock Perry and Angus McWilliam really did the job protecting the paint in the second half. Flynn Cameron did a tremendous job defensively against their best player, and Wil Tattersall came in and knocked down five huge threes." 

The Highlanders hit 10 of their 17 three-point attempts in the second half, after starting the game 2-8."It was a very well-rounded game for the team. We shot the ball very well, 48% from three and over 50% overall. I'm also proud of the defense, holding them to 30% shooting and out-rebounding them by 15." Magpayo went on to say.

UCR scored a season-high 86 points in the win, and for the second time in as many games, the Highlanders had five players score in double figures; Tattersall 19, Chidom 14, Pullin and Cameron 13, and Perry 11. They also had three players grab seven rebounds; Chidom, Cameron and Oliver Hayes-Brown. "What's most impressive about our performances this week is having back-to-back games with five guys in double figures."

The Highlanders and Mustangs will go at it again on Saturday afternoon at 4pm. "We have a great challenge tomorrow. Road wins are very very hard to come by and we will have to be just as connected and locked in to find a way tomorrow."