RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside downed Florida A&M 60-49 win in Friday afternoon's finale of the Cerebro Sports Golden Turkey Classic at the SRC Arena.
50 rebounds for the second time in three games was the key to UCR coming away with another gritty win on Black Friday.
"We've always been gritty on the defensive and rebounding side, and Florida A&M is an older, experienced, extremely well-coached team with a plan to crash the glass and pressure you and push in transition," head coach Mike Magpayo said. "To out-rebound this team by 26 is a great sign of our collective will."
Defensive tendencies showed up first in Friday's matinee, as the Highlanders continued to clean up the glass with six of Callum McRae's eight first-half rebounds through the first 10 minutes.
Magpayo went to his bench early on Friday with Daniel Mading picking up two rebounds in the first 10 minutes and one for Quinton Ford.
UCR went on a 5-0 run in the first half to widen the gap after Wil Tattersall drained a three and Jhalyon Martinez picked up the lay-in after securing a block on the other end. The Highlanders extended the run to 12-2, manufactured by seven different scorers and four makes from deep.
A 12-0 run from the Rattlers though pulled Florida A&M back into striking distance just before the halftime break with six points from MJ Randolph as halftime came with a 27-26 UCR lead
McRae picked up UCR's first four points of the second half to close a dry spell for UCR on the offensive end. The New Zealand native set a new career high with 16 rebounds, one game after becoming the 11th Kiwi to reach 600 career points at the NCAA Division I men's level. Another Kiwi on the floor for the Highlanders, Flynn Cameron, knocked down the game's first free throws two minutes into the second half after drawing contact on a three attempt.
Zyon Pullin knocked down a three at the 14:56 mark, effectively snapping a skid of seven consecutive three-point misses for UCR. The connection from deep put the Preseason All-Big West guard in double figures for the fourth time this season and third in last four games.
UC Riverside's connection from deep accounted for nine of the Highlanders' 11 points in an 11-0 run that boosted the lead to 47-30 midway through the second half, overshadowed by a 20-4 UCR run that saw five different scorers.
McRae earned all-tournament honors after averaging 7.0 points and 13.0 rebounds against UTEP and the Rattlers, while Zyon Pullin was named MVP for a stat line of 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists across both contests.
UC Riverside will now begin one of its toughest road trips of the season when the Highlanders travel to Saint Mary's on Monday, November 29. Monday night's 7:00 p.m. tipoff against the Gaels will be broadcast live on the WCC Network.
