Kevin Dinh/HIGHLANDER
Kevin Dinh/HIGHLANDER

Jan. 24, 2013
Tigers 63 – Highlanders 58

Riverside nearly erased a 15 point deficit against the Pacific Tigers on Thursday night, but the Tigers managed to hold on in the waning moments of the game to knock off the struggling Highlanders 63-58.

Chris Patton and Taylor Johns provided an offensive spark during the game. Patton scored 17 points, while Johns chipped in 12. The Tigers used balanced scoring, but Lorenzo McCloud was the only player that reached double figures with 17 points.

The Highlanders opened the first half with turnovers which resulted in Pacific’s McCloud scoring four points on a layup and a jumper. After an 8-3 run by the Pacific, Tiger Sama Taku nailed a three to bring their lead to eight, eventually pushing the lead to nine at 15-6.

Chris Patton provided an offensive boost to cut the lead to five with nine minutes left to go in the half, and eventually cutting the deficit to 19-17. A 12-7 run by Pacific at the end of the half gave the Tigers a seven point lead, 31-24.

The second half opened with baskets being traded by both teams, but a quick 7-1 run by Pacific left the Highlanders dazed. The lead then ballooned to 14, 45-31 after a Sama Taku three pointer. Riverside wouldn’t stay down for long as they went on a 16-7 run with seven minutes left to go.

The Highlanders eventually cut the lead to one after a Taylor Johns layup with 3 minutes left, but a Tigers three point bucket by Travis Fulton and clutch free throw shooting sealed the deal as UCR fell short.

McCloud and Patton led all scorers with 17 apiece, as the Highlanders shot 52.4 percent from the field, while Pacific shot 42.9 percent.

Jan. 26, 2013
Aggies 79 – Highlanders 72

Josh Fox scored a career high 22 points, including an electric 20 point second half, but UC Riverside’s men’s basketball team (5-15, 2-6) fell short losing 72-79 against UC Davis.

Riverside allowed UC Davis to go on a 7-2 run to start the first half. The Highlanders would then go on a 10-4 run, fueled by good defense by Chris Harriel and Taylor Johns, resulting in easy layups and free throws for Riverside. UC Riverside and Davis traded baskets for a while and with eight minutes left the game was tied up at 17.

The closing minutes of the first half the Aggies wouldn’t miss a shot and an emphatic J.T. Adenrele slam dunk ended the half. The Highlander offense was not terrible, but the collapse at the end of the half resulted in a 41-30 deficit for Riverside going into halftime.

Riverside lacked production on fast breaks in the first half as they were outscored in transition by four. They allowed dunks in the paint and was outscored 14-10 in the paint during the first half.

Josh Fox began his second half with two made jumpers and Riverside cut the lead to 10 with about 19 minutes left. When the lead was cut to eight Davis countered with a 7-0 run to take a 15 point lead.

The lead eventually ballooned to 60-42 but UCR went on one last push when they went on a 23-15 run to cut the lead back to 10. However, UC Davis iced the game with four free throws.

The Highlanders travel back home Jan. 27 to play Hawaii and Cal State Northridge Feb. 2.