RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A rejuvenated rebounding effort helped UC Riverside finish up non-conference play on Thursday afternoon at the SRC Arena with an impressive 76-65 win over Portland.
Luke Turner caught fire early with a trio of threes to keep the Highlanders in it early, as two of them came on assists from Flynn Cameron. Turner was consistent throughout the afternoon with five threes, going for a season-high 15 points with two rebounds and helping UCR improve to 3-0 when shooting at least 40 percent from the perimeter.
Turner's sharpshooting paved the way for a 13-2 Highlanders run and their first lead of the afternoon at 32-28 with three minutes until halftime. The Wofford transfer's efficient 3-for-3 3-point clip came on nine minutes off the bench in the first half.
UCR and Portland continued to play at a high tempo out of halftime as both sides traded 6-0 runs. The Highlanders took the 43-42 lead at the under-16 media break after a Lachlan Olbrich layup, and Nate Pickens continued performing at the SRC Arena with a triple halfway through the second half, now draining a three in each of UCR's three home games this season.
UC Riverside returned to the win column on Thursday, but almost more importantly, returned to winning the rebounding battle. The Highlanders picked it up on the glass in Thursday's non-conference finale with 38 rebounds, their most since 40 in the Vegas 4 against Abilene Christian. Within that, UCR also pulled down the most offensive rebounds, 13, since the season opener at Colorado while holding the Pilots to just four offensive rebounds.
Zyon Pullin took over late in the contest with back-to-back stepbacks from the left and right sides to give UCR a 62-55 lead before Turner sank his fourth three of the afternoon to establish a more comfortable double-digit lead. The senior finished with 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and a steal. Pullin and Cameron combined for 11 of UCR's 14 assists, while Lachlan Olbrich joined Pullin and Turner in double figures scoring with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds and an assist.
UC Riverside will take a week off before starting Big West play on Thursday, December 29 against CSU Bakersfield. Tipoff from the SRC Arena is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
