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. 

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside is island-bound for the weekend with a 10:00 p.m. PT tipoff at Hawai'i on Saturday, January 13.