LONG BEACH, Calif. – New Year's fireworks started early for UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon at the Walter Pyramid, as Jamal Hartwell II drained a buzzer-beating three from up top to sink Long Beach State, 73-72. 

Hartwell scored all 12 of UCR's bench points on the day, but none bigger than the last-second dagger that moved UCR to 2-0 in Big West play for the first time since 2019-20 and just the third time in program history. With the Highlanders forced to enter a next-man-up mentality in the final seconds, it was UC Riverside's time to capture yet another season-defining moment. 

"We said before the game that in order to put yourself in a position to accomplish our mission this year, you have to capture moments like a road game at Long Beach State," Highlanders head coach Mike Magpayo said. "Boy, did they capture the moment. This is a great start to conference play." 

UCR maintained a close lead early that never exceeded three despite a hot 60 percent clip from the field to start. A jumper from Zyon Pullin, UCR's fifth made field goal in their last seven, turned the Highlanders' hot start into a 7-0 run and a 16-11 lead. 

Pullin's mid-range game gave him eight points in the early going on a 4-of-7 clip, but the momentum soon shifted late in the first half with Long Beach pulling ahead. He and Hartwell combined for 19 of UCR's 32 first-half points on a combined 8-of-14 shooting. Both teams were square at the break with a 47 percent field goal clip, 14 rebounds and five turnovers. 

UC Riverside held the Beach to just 2 of 7 from the field out of the break while starting 3 of 6 on the other end before Flynn Cameron drained a crucial three midway through the second half. UCR continued to contain a cold Long Beach State offense as Cameron nailed his third three just under a minute later from up top that tied the ballgame at 55, but Long Beach continued to punch back in a high-octane finish. 

UC Riverside's best two three-point defensive performances have now come in Big West play after holding Long Beach State to just 18 percent from the perimeter. 

Long Beach State missed the front end of a one-and-one and Jhaylon Martinez pulled down the defensive rebound as the ball made its way into Hartwell's hands for another. 

Kyle Owens finished with 11 points that included sinking a pair of free throws at the six-minute mark of the second half for UCR's first lead since the second half. Pullin split defenders late for a key put-in down low and finished with 22 points, four rebounds and five assists for his seventh 20-point game on the year. 

UC Riverside is back at the SRC Arena on Thursday, January 5 to kick off 2023 with another Big West contest, this time against Cal State Fullerton. Tipoff against the Titans is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.