Balanced Scoring Attack Gives UCR Convincing Win over Cal Poly

Thursday, January 11

Riverside, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

University of California, Riverside

7-10,2-3Big West

Cal Poly

4-13,0-5Big West

Team	1	2	F
Cal Poly	23	33	56
UC Riverside	32	39	71

Balanced Scoring Attack Gives UCR Convincing Win over Cal Poly

1/11/2024 9:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A balanced scoring attack and another clinical rebounding performance helped UC Riverside return to the win column with a convincing 71-56 win over Cal Poly on Thursday night at the SRC Arena.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UCR's seventh different lineup of the season proved to be fruitful early on with the Highlanders shooting 62.5% from the field going into the game's first media break. Kaleb Smith and Kyle Owens paved the way early with five points apiece to lead all scorers.
Ben Griscti later joined the scoring party with five straight points for UC Riverside - including a three - to give UCR a double-digit lead that would later become a second-half theme.
UCR's bench continued to prove its value with 23 of the Highlanders' 32 first half points, but the Highlanders' real offensive sparkplug in the opening half came from a dominant 18-2 advantage in second-chance points.
UCR additionally replicated its due diligence on the glass, where the Highlanders held a 20-13 lead at the break while yielding just two offensive rebounds. UC Riverside ended the night going north of 40 rebounds for the sixth time this season.
A 13-2 run and a balanced scoring attack put the home side comfortably in the driver's seat after halftime. Included in that run were back-to-back threes from Isaiah Moses, who put up six rebounds and three assists to go along with his 15 points - 13 of which came after halftime.
UC Riverside continued to bully the offensive glass in the second half and stymie any chance of a comeback from Cal Poly, all while continuing to execute offensively with an 11-2 edge in fast break points.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Moses was one of five Highlanders scoring in double figures on the night. Kyle Owens put up a double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Smith came one rebound shy, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Owens recorded his second double double in his last three games and is now the second Highlander this year with multiple double doubles, joining Jhaylon Martinez.
UCR put up 44 rebounds against a Big West opponent for the second time this season and third time overall while posting its third largest rebound margin of the season at +16.

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