UCRMBB Pickett 3
65
UC Irvine Irvine 10-7,6-3 Big West
86
Winner UC Riverside UCR 9-4,5-2 Big West
UC Irvine Irvine
10-7,6-3 Big West
65
Final
86
UC Riverside UCR
9-4,5-2 Big West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Irvine Irvine 28 37 65
UC Riverside UCR 41 45 86

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Highlanders Dominate UC Irvine In, 86-65, Wire-to-Wire Victory

Presented by Altura Credit Union



Riverside, Calif.— The UC Riverside Men's Basketball team never trailed in a dominant, 86-65, victory over UC Irvine in the SRC Arena. Friday's game one win snaps an 11-game skid against the Anteaters, with the Highlanders' last victory coming nearly six years ago to the day, 2/14/15. 

Head Coach Mike Magpayo on the victory, "We talk about testing our standards against the best, and that is really who we try to focus on, ourselves and our standards... But to see the growth in two years and for the guys to build this from the ground up creates more belief—it also creates a higher standard that our coaching staff will hold them to."

UCR matched their season-high points scored total of 86, knocked down 14 threes, shot over 50 percent from the floor, and were one turnover away from matching their season-low total of nine.  The Highlanders are now 5-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field this season.Tonight marks the first time this season that they were also over 50 percent from long distance as well. Defensively, the Highlanders held Irvine to 40 percent shooting for the game, controlled the boards 35-32, and forced 13 turnovers-compared to their aforementioned 10.

Senior guard Dominick Pickett set new career-highs of 22 points and six made three-pointers on an efficient 8-10 shooting, 6-8 from deep. Jock Perry poured in 16 points (3-7, 3pt) to go with four rebounds. Zyon Pullin had 12 points to go with a game-high six assists and four rebounds, while Arinze Chidom also had 12 points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

UC Riverside jumped out to a 7-0 advantage to start the game, and rode that early momentum to a 22-7 lead mid-way through the first half, before entering the locker room ahead 41-28.

In the second half, the Highlanders opened with a 19-8 run over the first four minutes of play that saw six different players score to make it 60-36. UCI had a late rally to cut the deficit to 15, 70-55, but UCR responded with five quick points to restore order en route to the 86-65 victory. 

Of the nine players who logged over 13 minutes, seven of them scored five or more points. Oliver Hayes-Brown had four rebounds, including two on the offensive glass that extended key late-game possessions, while Angus McWilliam ended five UCI scoring opportunities with possession ending rebounds. 

"The pulse of the locker room post-game was very business-like. These weekend series are unique because you cannot celebrate or get too down after the first game. We have a plan every weekend and we will stick to the plan." Magpayo stated. 

No players on this roster had ever beat UC Irvine before tonight's win. "Our guys expected to play well, prepared like it, and performed like it… Surprised to win wire-to-wire though. I was expecting a heavyweight fight tonight and I fully expect something to that effect tomorrow." said Magpayo.

Game two is Saturday night at 9pm on ESPNU.
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