BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - UC Riverside dropped an 80-56 Big West contest to Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday night at the Icardo Center. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ben Griscti opened the game with a quick three and led the way with five points for UCR early. The Aussie scored five of UCR's first seven points following a layup on the assist from Isaiah Moses. 
• UCR gritted its teeth down low with Barrington Hargress securing his own offensive rebound before dishing to Jhaylon Martinez, who completed the three-point play from the foul line. 
• The Highlander defense held Bakersfield without a field goal for a good three minutes while Griscti again added to his stat line with another bucket down low. Griscti again connected from deep as UC Riverside hit two of its final four threes before the break. 
• Griscti accounted for UCR's first six points of the second half on a couple of long-range connections before Nate Pickens flushed home the dunk in transition. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• UC Riverside continued to own the offensive glass with a 17-11 advantage over Bakersfield. 
• Griscti returned to his double figures ways of scoring with an efficient 16 points in 20 minutes on 6 of 10 shooting with four makes from downtown. 
• Pickens, meanwhile, recorded his third straight game in double figures with 11 points in his third consecutive start. 

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside returns home for its next outing, hosting CSUN on Saturday, January 20 at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+.