LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A dream season for a program on the rise came to an end in at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, but not without accolades that set a new bar for UC Riverside's men's basketball program. 
 
Friday's 78-61 defeat to UC Irvine in the semifinal of the Big West Tournament took nothing away from what the Highlanders achieved through the struggles of this season – a season that saw UCR first-year head coach Mike Magpayo's team reach the tournament semifinal for just the second time in the program's 20-year Division I history.
 
"Being in this position is really hard, especially in my first year with these guys," Magpayo said, "I felt like they deserved a better showing than we showed tonight. I'm proud of these guys and really thankful to have Arinze, who helped build this program to what it is today."
 
A slow start for the Highlanders on Friday was not to last, as All-Big West Honorable Mention Jock Perry knocked down a high-post jumper to extend an early UCR run to 7-0 and cut a UCI lead to single digits. 
 
Perry, who ended Friday with his 15^th double-digit scoring effort on the year at 16 points, led UCR in the first half with a team-high eight points on 4-of-5 shooting. He and fellow All-Big West Honorable Mention selection Zyon Pullin combined for 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting through the first 20 minutes.
 
Perry also tied a season and career high with 10 rebounds, giving the redshirt senior his second double-double on the season. Still, the Highlanders spent the majority of the night looking for ways to catch the Anteaters off balance. 
 
"We were really close and we couldn't get the defensive rebound that we needed to make it a game," Magpayo said.
 
Flynn Cameron converted the rare four-point play for the Highlanders at the 6:02 mark after draining the free throw after falling away from a made triple. 
 
Away from a rather unforgiving three-point line for the Highlanders, UCR converted on six of seven shots from the free throw line in the first half, including a perfect 2-for-2 clip each from Dominick Pickett and George Willborn III.
 
Arinze Chidom drained three triples on three ensuing possessions to open the second half and give him his team-leading 16^th game this year with double-digit scoring. It was the spark UCR needed, as the Highlanders began the second half shooting 50 percent up to the first media timeout. 
 
Chidom finished out the night scoring 12 of his 16 points in the second half, including going 4 for 7 from downtown. 
 
"We always talk about having a great attitude and great work ethics," Magpayo said on his team's depth of character, "but guys like Arinze come through here and poured their hearts into the program because they've changed everything. This program is real."