UCRMBB Chidom Dunk
63
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 10-5,6-2 Big West
70
Winner UC Riverside UCR 7-4,4-2 Big West
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
10-5,6-2 Big West
63
Final
70
UC Riverside UCR
7-4,4-2 Big West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 32 31 63
UC Riverside UCR 31 39 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Highlanders Come Up Clutch To Beat Bakersfield, 70-63

Presented by Altura Credit Union


Riverside, Calif.— The UC Riverside Men's Basketball team made clutch, winning plays down the stretch to defeat visiting CSU Bakersfield, 70-63 Saturday. The game two win earned the Highlanders a split in the series and helped keep pace in the Big West standings, where they sit alone in fourth place at 4-2.

Head Coach Mike Magpayo on the victory, "A fantastic response by our guys, but I didn't think we played that bad yesterday. So as for the whole weekend, our guys played with a lot of heart, a lot of grit, and showed mental toughness."

UCR was led by Arinze Chidom and Jock Perry, who each finished with 14 points and five rebounds to lead five players in double-figures. Flynn Cameron pitched 11 points to the cause and pulled down four rebounds, while all of Wil Tattersall's 10 points came from long distance, as he knocked down three triples, including one where he got fouled and converted the free-throw for the four-point play. Dominick Pickett scored all of his 10 points in the second half to round out the five Highlanders in double figures.

"Seems like there's a trend when we have five guys score in double figures, we come out on top. As a staff we love it because it shows the offense is popping and we are sharing the ball. Arinze got his 14 points, but also got the offense moving by being willing to make the extra pass since they bring a lot of help his way." said Magpyao.

In addition to the five players scoring in double figures, UCR also had six players grab four rebounds or more, led by reserve big Oliver Hayes-Brown, who collected a career-high six caroms in the win.

Magpayo on the bigs, "Jock Perry took a beating the last two days and did a tremendous job in the back line and today got it going for us today with two huge threes. In these back to backs we need everyone, and the Freshman Ollie Hayes-Brown had a coming out party of sorts with some big minutes and had six huge rebounds and a block."

Like the first game, Saturday's tussle was played at close range with neither team able to pull away. The Highlanders did manage to go on an extended 13-3 in the second half that featured a trio of three-balls (Pickett 2, Tattersall) to go-ahead 60-55 with five minutes to play.

CSUB closed to within one, 62-61, when Cameron made two free-throws to make it 64-61. Pickett then rebounded a Roadrunner miss and was fouled, he made both free-throws attempts. Bakersfield then scored on a jump hook in the lane to keep it a three-point game, 66-63.

UCR entered the game number two in the country in defensive field goal percentage, but this time they forced a turnover, and was fouled again. Now it was Chidom's turn at the line, and with the Bakersfield bench howling in the background, he calmly sank both attempts, 68-63. On the next possession, the Highlanders locked in to force another miss and Pickett secured a tough defensive board in traffic before being fouled, the senior from Moreno Valley made both attempts to ice the game, 70-63. The Highlanders went 10-10 down the stretch at the free-throw line in scoring their final points of the contest. Their last basket was a three, by Pickett, with 5:34 left in the game.

"Flynn Cameron brought a ton of energy today defensively holding Taze Moore to 4-12 shooting. Dom Pickett was clutch, huge threes down the stretch, huge rebounds, and 4-4 from the line down the stretch." said Magpayo of the defense and closing minutes of the game.

UCR is off next week, but returns to action the following weekend, when the Highlanders will take their shortest road trip in Big West conference play, a drive into Orange County to face Cal State Fullerton Friday, February 5th and Saturday the 6th. Both tip-offs are slated for 5pm.


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