Riverside, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Patton led the way with 21 points as
the UC Riverside Highlanders downed the UC Irvine Anteaters, 68-58, in a Big
West Conference matchup at the Student Recreation Center Arena.
Chris Harriel added 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field to go along
with four blocks for UC Riverside (5-13, 2-4 Big West), which also received a
double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds from Josh Fox. The win snapped the
Highlanders' three-game losing slide.
Daman Starring scored 20 of his team-best 22 points in the second half and
finished 6-of-16 from the floor for the Anteaters (10-10, 4-3), who had their
three-game winning streak come to an end. Michael Wilder paced UC Irvine on
the boards with nine rebounds.
UC Riverside took a 29-18 lead into the intermission despite making only 33.3
percent of its field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes. The Anteaters
shot an even worse 20 percent from the floor including an ice-cold 2-of-14
from 3-point range in the first half.
The Highlanders lost the second stanza, 40-39, but protected their lead by
converting 17-of-26 at the charity stripe after the break. UC Irvine improved
to hit 43.3 percent of its field goals, but it could not overcome the halftime
deficit.
UC Riverside outscored the visitors, 26-16, in the paint and also, 10-0, in
second chance points.
GAME NOTES:
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