Chidom's Late Score Seals, 70-68, Victory Over Hawaii

Saturday, January 9

Riverside, Calif.

4:00 PM

UC Riverside

4-2,1-1Big West

Hawaii

3-1,1-1Big West

Team	1	2	F
Hawaii	34	34	68
UC Riverside	35	35	70

Chidom's Late Score Seals, 70-68, Victory Over Hawaii

1/9/2021 8:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Presented by Altura Credit Union

Riverside, Calif. – The UC Riverside Highlanders earned a 70-68 victory over Hawaii that was sealed by Arinze Chidom's jump hook in the lane with two seconds to play.

Chidom finished with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the win. Flynn Cameron was a perfect 5-5 from the field including 3-3 from long distance for 14 points, while Jock Perry added 13 to make it a trio of Highlanders in double figures.

UCR started out the game with an elevated pace and energy, an improvement over their game one start which propelled the blue and gold to a 20-12 lead midway through the first half. Head Coach Mike Magpayo on the strong start, "A real resilient effort from our guys. They came out with tremendous energy tonight. We just came back this morning and focused on fundamentals and executing what we do at a higher level."

Hawaii would regroup and cut the UCR lead to one, 35-34 at the half. The Highlanders got scores from eight different players in the first 20 minutes of play.

Like the first half, the Highlanders came out of the locker strong to start the second half. They went on a 9-0 run over the first three minutes of action and remained in control at the under 16 media stoppage, 48-37.

Once again Hawaii responded, this time they cut the deficit to five at 54-49, before tying the game at 56 with eight minutes to play. They took the lead shortly after and were ahead the remainder of the game until the final two seconds.

"We also showed resilience to find a way to win after losing an 11 point lead. I have to do a better job managing us through that." said Magpayo.

The Rainbow Warriors took a 68-65 lead into the final minute on a Carson Jardine jumper. On the ensuing UCR possession, Chidom found Perry open on the right wing beyond the arc, and the 7-1 transfer buried the game-tying three-ball with 30 seconds remaining. The Highlanders forced a Hawaii miss from three and pressured the Warriors into a turnover after grabbing the offensive rebound. UCR began their possession with 16 seconds remaining. Coach Magpayo dialed up a play to isolate Chidom on the right block. He received the entry pass, calmly made a move to the center of the lane and sank a jump hook over the defender with two seconds left. Hawaii's last second heave failed to draw iron, and Highlanders earned a split in the series and delivered Coach Magpayo his first Big West Conference victory, 70-68.

"We basically doubled down on our gameplan and our guys decided to be the more physical team today." said Magpayo on the difference between the two games.

UCR's next matchup is a recently added contest at USC scheduled for Tuesday night.