Highlanders Fall In Game Two vs UC Irvine, Split Series

Saturday, February 13

Riverside, Calif.

9:00 PM

UC Riverside

9-5,5-3Big West

UC Irvine

11-7,7-3Big West

Team	1	2	F
UC Irvine	35	38	73
UC Riverside	39	28	67

Photo by: Maria Saldivar, NAU Athletics

Highlanders Fall In Game Two vs UC Irvine, Split Series

2/14/2021 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Presented by Altura Credit Union

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—After Friday's game one victory, UC Riverside Men's Basketball Head Coach Mike Magpayo said he expected a war in game two, and Saturday night's matchup on ESPNU was just that. However, visiting UC Irvine got away with a 73-67 win to earn a series split.

The six-point loss matches the largest winning margin by a Highlander opponent this season, as their five defeats have come by a combined total of 24 points. They hold sole possession of fourth place in the Big West standings with series against conference leading UC Santa Barbara and CSUN remaining—next week's contests at UC San Diego will be counted as non-conference.

Arinze Chidom led the way for UCR with 17 points and five rebounds, he was joined in double figures by Dominick Pickett who had 10 points and also grabbed five rebounds, while Zyon Pullin and George Willborn III chipped in eights points apiece.

UC Irvine (11-7, 7-3) was led by Colin Welp's 27 point-13 rebound double double. Both were game highs. Coach Magpayo on Welp, "Arinze was probably our best defender on him, but was in foul trouble and that really hurt us when defending him... He made a couple huge threes on blown coverages. He's a player of the year candidate and respect to him, he kicked our butts."

UC Riverside (9-5, 5-3) knocked down 12 three-pointers Saturday night, and for the second straight game they committed only 10 turnovers. However, following a night when they shot over 50 percent from the field and distance, shooting 40 percent and 33 percent respectively made other aspects of the game more critical. The Highlanders were outrebounded 45-30 by the 'Eaters, with 15 of them, the margin, coming on the offensive glass therefore extending Irvine possessions.

"When you get outrebounded by 15 you will probably lose, but if you give up 15 offensive rebounds to them, you will most certainly lose.That's the story of the game." said Magpayo on the battle of the boards.

UCR maintained a narrow single-digit lead for majority of the first half, and led by nine early in the second half having scored the first five points of the period to lead 44-35. UCI responded with a momentum shifting 11-0 run to go ahead by two, 46-44. The clubs traded buckets, however, the extended defensive possessions due to Irvine's offensive rebounding began to take a toll on the Highlanders, who entered the game ranked 5th in the country in defensive field goal percentage (37.5%), and 7th in scoring defense (60.2/g).

"We really never got our feet settled in defensively something we pride ourselves in... Disappointed in the effort on that side of the ball."

UCI got timely scores from Welp down the stretch, and UCR struggled to score as the Anteaters went on to win 73-67.

The Highlanders will travel to La Jolla next weekend to take on UC San Diego on Friday, February 19th and Saturday the 20th.