SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The UC Riverside Highlanders made history with its first-ever appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) but fell to Santa Clara 101-62 in the opening round on Tuesday night at the Leavey Center. The Highlanders wrapped up their milestone season at 21-13 overall and 14-6 in Big West play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nate Pickens led UC Riverside with 15 points, shooting 5-for-12 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line while adding four assists.
• Barrington Hargress recorded seven points and a team-high five assists, while Kaleb Smith added seven points and four rebounds.
• Isaiah Moses contributed six points and three assists, and Joel Armotrading contributed with six points, four rebounds, and a block.
• The Highlanders stayed competitive in the first half, shooting 43.3% from the field and trailing 44-33 at halftime.
• Santa Clara took over in the second half, outscoring UC Riverside 57-29 while shooting 70% from the field and 81.8% from three-point range after the break.

NOTABLES

• This was UC Riverside's first-ever NIT appearance, marking a major milestone for the program.
• Hargress finished the season with 686 total points, solidifying his single-season scoring record.
• Pickens finished in double figures for the 16th time this season.
• UC Riverside's bench provided 21 points, with key contributions from Rikus Schulte (9 points) and Niyi Olabode (6 points).

SEASON WRAP-UP

• UC Riverside concludes the 2024-25 campaign with its first-ever NIT appearance and a 21-win season, further solidifying its place as a rising program under head coach Mike Magpayo. The Highlanders will now shift their focus to the offseason, looking to build on this year's success and continue making program history.