Chidom's 17 Leads Three Highlanders In Double Figures In Narrow 72-68 Defeat

Friday, February 26

Riverside, Calif.

8:00 PM

UC Riverside

10-7,5-4Big West

UC Santa Barbara

17-3,11-2Big West

Team	1	2	F
UC Santa Barbara	31	41	72
UC Riverside	29	39	68

Chidom's 17 Leads Three Highlanders In Double Figures In Narrow 72-68 Defeat

2/26/2021 11:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Presented by Altura Credit Union

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball team dropped a narrow, 72-68, decision to visiting UC Santa Barbara Friday night on ESPN 2.

Arinze Chidom scored 17 points to lead three Highlanders in double figures, as Jock Perry had 14 and Zyon Pullin added 13 to round out the trio. They also got valuable contributions off the bench from reserve big Oliver Hayes-Brown (7pts-4rebs) and senior guard George Willborn III (9pts-3rebs).

Game one of the series was tight the entire way through with each team making runs in the second half. The four-point difference in tonight's game was summed up in 28 made field goals to 27, that shot, one of UCSB's five made threes to UCR's four (+3), and the Gauchos 11 made free-throws to the Highlanders 10 (+1), resulting in the 72-68 final score.

Head Coach Mike Magpayo on the loss, "We have to defend, rebound and get those 50-50 balls. We have to win a top notch conference game against the first place team. We have to have more hunger, heart and hustle than on those to get it done… Still proud of the guys for battling back, but there were crucial possessions that all turned into points for them. That turns the game one way or the other."

In the second half each squad made runs, however, the Gauchos made them to go-ahead, while the Highlanders runs were in an effort to catch up. UCSB established a significant margin midway through the second half leading 57-46. The Highlanders responded by scoring 11 straight points in a run that featured a three-ball from Willborn III and four points by Perry. Defensively, they forced turnovers on three-straight UCSB possessions, knotting the game at 57 apiece–forcing them to call for time.

UCR trailed 70-68 and had a shot to tie the game with 10 seconds to play, but Pullin's runner bounced twice on the rim before falling into the hands of Amadou Sow, who was fouled with 0.03 left and made both free throws–icing the game. The Gauchos were led by Sow's 21 points and eight rebounds. They also got 15 points and seven assists from Jordan McLaughlin.

The loss drops UC Riverside to 10-7 overall, 5-4 in conference. There seven losses have come by a combined 29 points and they have never been beaten by double digits this season.

The Highlanders will play their 2020-21 home finale Saturday against UCSB at 7pm on ESPN3. Prior to the game, they'll honor seniors Jock Perry, Arinze Chidom and George WIllborn III.