LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC Riverside erased yet another double-digit deficit on Wednesday night at LionTree Arena on the campus of UC San Diego, battling back from 18 down to snag a 74-68 win over the Tritons. 

Jamal Hartwell II went for a career-high 30 points in the Highlanders' second 30-point individual performance of the season, as budding confidence both in the lineup and off the bench helped UC Riverside lock up a 4-1 start to Big West play for the first time since 2011-12. 

"There was a certain defensive coverage UC San Diego had, and Jamal and Lachlan found the solution over and over again putting us in position," head coach Mike Magpayo said. "The team feels great knowing that they can get road wins in Big West play and our depth is continuing to reveal itself. They are truly living the 'next man up' mentality during this stretch."

UCR dominated the boards early, but UC San Diego matched that advantage inside as the two traded offensive blows early on. The Highlanders' offense hit a rock soon after, falling into familiar territory with an 18-point deficit. 

Part of the territory, though, was also how UCR responded to adversity time and time again. The only changing variable on Wednesday was the date and opponent. 

After scoring 11 of UCR's first 22 points as the newest addition to the Highlanders' starting lineup, Hartwell scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half before another late winner, this time an open three from up top with 37 seconds on the clock. Lachlan Olbrich and Kyle Owens both added double doubles while combining for 25 of UCR's 45 rebounds. 

UCR, who led for all of just 39 seconds on Wednesday, has now out-rebounded its opponent by at least 10 in four of five Big West games this season. 

Olbrich came back on the offensive end and knocked down a three after the Highlanders found themselves down 14 with 7:23 to play and 10 with five minutes left before turning on the accelerators. 

Luke Turner added in six points on a couple made threes with four rebounds that impacted the trajectory of another comeback. UC San Diego missed on a jumper outside of the five-minute mark, but Turner grabbed the defensive board and finished the effort with a three that permanently cut the deficit to under 10. By that time, UC Riverside was well into a 13-3 run that pushed the Highlanders over the line for their fifth win in their last six games. 

The week doesn't get any easier for the Highlanders, who travel to UC Santa Barbara next on Saturday, January 14. Tipoff from the UCSB Events Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.