UC Riverside
15-8,8-3Big West
CSU Bakersfield
7-15,3-8Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT 1 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Riverside | 35 | 35 | 6 | 76 |
| CSU Bakersfield | 33 | 37 | 12 | 82 |
Highlanders Force Overtime, Fall in Bakersfield
2/2/2023 9:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Presented by Altura Credit Union
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Thursday's latest installment of the UC Riverside vs. CSU Bakersfield series was no different than recent matchups, ending as the eighth meeting in the last 11 decided by 10 points or less in a narrow 82-76 overtime loss at the Icardo Center.
A high caliber first half saw both sides shoot above 50 percent in the first half, all but securing another close encounter between UCR and CSU Bakersfield. UC Riverside shot 56 percent in the first half to take a 35-33 lead into halftime, as Flynn Cameron had the hot hand with just one miss overall in the opening 20 minutes.
UCR held the opposition to under 10 offensive rebounds for the eighth game in their last nine. Cameron was lethal from downtown with five makes from deep for the second time this season and fourth time in his Highlander career. He and Jamal Hartwell II combined for eight of UCR's 12 triples on Thursday.
Hartwell kicked into gear in the second half with a pair of threes in quick succession to put the Highlanders up by four after the midway point of the latter period. Hartwell's triple spree turned into a barrage of buckets, as Vladimer Salaridze joined the downtown party to create more separation from in front of UCR's bench.
Hartwell accounted for 12 of UCR's 19 bench points to lead all non-starters as UC Riverside throttled the Roadrunners with a 19-2 edge in bench points.
Zyon Pullin put up yet another 20-point performance, going for 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting. The Pleasant Hill native recorded 19 of his 26 after halftime, including a dramatic game-tying three with two seconds on the clock to force overtime. Pullin also knocked down an inside jumper to give UCR its largest lead at 30-22 in the first half before a signature Pullin stepback gave UCR a three-point lead with five minutes remaining.
Pullin added another five assists to his total, and now sits two behind Marcellus Smith for third all-time in program history.
UC Riverside makes the trip south to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, battling the Titans on Saturday with a 6:00 p.m. tipoff on ESPN+ from Titan Gym.
