UCRMBB Pullin Dribbling 2
70
Winner UC Riverside UCR 6-3,3-1 Big West
53
Cal Poly CPO 2-8,0-4 Big West
Winner
UC Riverside UCR
6-3,3-1 Big West
70
Final
53
Cal Poly CPO
2-8,0-4 Big West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Riverside UCR 30 40 70
Cal Poly CPO 26 27 53

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Highlanders' Late Surge Seals, 70-53, Victory At Cal Poly

Presented by Altura Credit Union

Altura Credit Union
San Luis Obispo, Calif. — The UC Riverside Men's Basketball team earned a sweep in the season with Cal Poly thanks to a late-game surge that propelled them to a 70-53 victory Saturday evening.

"They treated this like a straight business trip and wanted to close the deal tonight. It's always tough to get a back-to-back wins for a road sweep, but they finished the job." said Head Coach Mike Magpayo.

UCR's 3-1 start in Big West play is the first since the 2011-12 season. That team got to 4-1 and finished with a program-best 7-9 conference record, a mark matched by last year's squad. The Highlanders came into the game 79th in the NCAA Net Rankings. The highest of any Big West school, UC Santa Barbara is second at 111.

Magpayo on the game's physicality,  "Today was a very physical game and our guys found a way to tough it out and come out on top. In these physical games is where our size and depth really helps us."

The Highlanders were led by Zyon Pullin,  who posted game-highs of 20 points and eight rebounds to go with his three assists. Jock Perry shot an efficient 7-11 from the field, including 3-5 from long distance in scoring 17 points in the win. George Willborn III provided a welcomed spark off the bench with 11 points in 19 minutes of play.

""George was fantastic for us off the bench hitting three big three-pointers. Zyon really handled their pressure and physicality, his growth and toughness was on full display tonight. Our backcourt between, Zyon (8rebs) and Flynn (8rebs), had 16 rebounds. Jock Perry broke the game open for us in the second half with some huge threes." said Magpayo.

Like the first game of the series, Saturday's contest was tight at halftime, with UCR holding a slim 30-26 lead.

The game turned with 6:57 to play, when Willborn III hit back-to-back three-pointers to put UCR ahead, 59-47. Pullin then stole ball and scored on the other end. Arinze Chidom collected an offensive rebound and scored to push the Highlanders margin to 16, 63-47. They held Cal Poly scoreless for seven minutes during their 10 point spurt. The clubs traded scores over the final minutes of the game on the way to a 70-53 final score.

"Our defense did the job again today overall holding Cal Poly to 31% from the field. Flynn had another spectacular defensive effort on their best player, Rogers, holding him to 1-8 today (4-20 on the weekend) and we made the adjustment putting Arinze on Koroma and Arinze did a great job there holding him to 3-10 shooting and two turnovers." said Magpayo on today's performance.

The Highlanders return home to host Big West Conference newcomer Cal State University, Bakersfield on Friday, January 22nd and Saturday the 23rd, both tip-offs are slated for 4pm.