LONG BEACH, Calif.  — UC Riverside celebrated a historic milestone Tuesday night, earning the program's 1,000th win with a commanding 76-60 victory over Long Beach State at the Walter Pyramid. The Highlanders improved to 3-0 in Big West play with the landmark achievement.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Isaiah Moses led the charge with 22 points on 10-for-16 shooting, including two 3-pointers.
• Nate Pickens recorded a double-double, contributing 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Barrington Hargress added 17 points and four assists.
• Kaleb Smith chipped in 11 points, hitting three shots from beyond the arc.
• The Highlanders took a 38-32 lead into halftime and dominated the second half, outscoring Long Beach State 38-28. UC Riverside shot 44.8% from the field, including 10 from three-point range, and limited their opponents to just 43.4% shooting with only three made threes.
• A strong presence on the boards proved decisive as UC Riverside outrebounded their opponent 38-30, including 12 offensive rebounds that resulted in 15 second-chance points. The Highlanders' bench also played a pivotal role, adding 27 points.

COACH MAGPAYO ON THE GAME

• "This was a great game for the program against a team that had our number last year," said Coach Mike Magpayo. "I think our team is bought into their roles, and it's great to see a variety of weapons step up, like Isaiah Moses, who had an incredible game, and Nate Pickens, who recorded a double-double and both did a great job guarding Long Beach State's best player at times. The defensive effort was tremendous tonight on the road. That's what it takes."
• Magpayo also noted the significance of the win, saying, "To see our program build, with a really good UC Riverside turnout in Long Beach, tells you where our program is at this point. It's extremely satisfying to see this program continue to grow from the ground up, and to be the squad that got win 1,000 is special. But there's much more work to be done."

NOTABLES

• This victory not only solidifies the Highlanders' perfect start in conference play but also marks a historic moment as they reach 1,000 wins in program history.
• Moses' 22 points set a new season-high for single-game scoring.
• Pickens double-double was the first one collected on the season.

UP NEXT

• The Highlanders head to Irvine as they take on UC Irvine Saturday, January 4^th with tip-off set for 7pm.