RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside capped off a pivotal weekend down the stretch and sent shockwaves throughout the Big West on Saturday night at the SRC Arena with an 88-78 win over first-place UC Irvine.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• UC Riverside built a 20-15 lead on a three from Ben Griscti, only for UCI to answer the bell with a corner three on the ensuing possession. Neither side yielded any separation in the opening minutes. 
• Griscti claimed 11 of the Highlanders' first 22 points, going 4 of 6 from the field to start with all three of UCR's triples from the left side of the floor. Griscti was critical to an 11-2 Highlander run midway through the first half.  
• The threes kept falling for UC Riverside, who benefited from another back-to-back triples from Nate Pickens and Kyle Owens.  
• UCR used back-to-back threes as an offensive weapon once more, this time climbing out of an offensive slump thanks to Griscti and Luke Turner. The duo put UC Riverside on an 8-0 scoring run with a 56-47 lead halfway through the second half. Owens turned it into a double-digit lead with a pair of free throws before connecting on the Highlanders' 11th three of the night.  

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• UC Riverside's eight made threes before halftime were the Highlanders' most in a first half this season. UCR finished with 13 and has now hit at least 10 threes for the fourth time in the last six games, dating back to a Division I program-record 17 against CSUN on January 20.  
• Griscti had an especially prolific impact on Saturday's win, splitting his game-high 26 points between the inside and outside of the three-point line. The Aussie also grabbed four rebounds and three blocks.  

UP NEXT 

• The Highlanders return to action on Thursday, February 15 with a 7:00 p.m. tipoff at Cal State Fullerton on ESPN+.