Going into this game, the Highlanders strung together an impressive two-game winning streak at home. The quick homestand featured an ESPN Top 10 worthy buzzer beater from graduate forward Kyle Owens against Cal State Bakersfield and a double-digit victory against top-seed UC Irvine. The back-to-back wins have lifted UC Riverside to a 5-8 conference record. While the Highlanders have enjoyed success at home this season, the same can’t be said on the road.
UCR’s ugly 0-12 away record has dragged them down into the bottom half of the Big West standings. With the Cal State Fullerton Titans on deck, getting a road win was twice as important. For whatever reason, the 2022 Big West Champions haven’t replicated the same success from past seasons. With the Titans sitting at 4-8 in the Big West, this game could have major implications as to which teams secure the last few spots in the Big West tournament.
UCR head coach Mike Magpayo looked to space the floor from the get-go. Unafraid to go small, Magpayo started guards Isaiah Moses, Barrington Hargress, and Nate Pickens. Magpayo’s decision was validated from the beginning. Moses and Pickens got the Highlanders off to a quick start with a pair of 3-pointers.
While both sophomore guards attacked from the outside, redshirt freshman Barrington Hargress looked to get inside to score. With the Titans worried about the 3-ball, they were eager to bite on pump fakes. Hargress and Moses especially used this to their advantage.
Despite starting a trio of guards, the Highlanders weren’t overmatched on the boards. Forwards Kyle Owens and redshirt freshman Kaleb Smith showed they were up for the task. Smith was particularly a force on the offensive glass. Smith’s hustle helped create extra chances for his teammates and himself.
It was safe to say everything was clicking for the Highlanders early on. After Pickens knocked down a corner triple, the visitors found themselves up 18-4. However, the Titans would snatch the momentum in an instant. They subbed in Grayson Carper, and the junior guard would make an instant impact. He drilled back-to-back 3-pointers and forced Magpayo to use a timeout.
Coming out of the break, the Highlanders continued to shoot from behind the arc. Magpayo made a series of substitutions, but the strategy remained the same. Off the bench, juniors Luke Turner and Ben Gristchi joined the fun with 3-pointers of their own. Nevertheless, the Titans refused to be put away.
It appeared the Highlanders were in control until Smith was denied at the rim by senior Vincent Lee. Lee’s block gave the Titans the jolt of energy to claw back into the game. A corner 3-pointer from freshman Antwan Robinson cut the lead to just two.
Riding the wave of momentum, the Titans got over-aggressive on defense. They tried to double-team Moses, but he found Pickens for a wide-open dunk. Then with just 0.6 seconds left in the half, Lee fouled Gristchi on a 3-point attempt. The Australian sank all three free throws to put UCR up 40-33 going into halftime.
Just like the first half, the Highlanders jumped out of the gates in the second half. A pair of three-pointers from Smith and Hargress restored a double-digit lead for UCR. The Highlanders remained in the driver’s seat until after a Smith putback; he was rewarded with a technical foul for some choice words.
UCR’s grip on the game loosened, and the Titans looked to take advantage. Senior guard Tory San Antonio swished a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 1. A couple of possessions later, a pair of free throws from junior Max Jones gave the Titans their first lead of the game. Then, San Antonio and Jones combined for a corner 3. With his team falling behind, Moses drilled a deep 3-pointer to put the Highlanders back in front.
With the game entering clutch time, San Antonio proved he likes big moments. The Moreno Valley native had been using his long wingspan to disrupt the Highlanders all game, but he really stood out late in the second half. After a block on Hargress’s layup attempt, San Antonio swiped the ball on the next two possessions. The reigning Big West defensive player of the year gave his team every opportunity to win this ball game.
However, the Titans squandered their extra offensive chances. After a Hargress bucket put the Highlanders ahead, CSUF was forced to intentionally foul. Hargress and Pickens each knocked down free throws as UCR finally pulled away from the Titans.
The Highlanders earned their first road win of the season in a back-and-forth 81-73 win against CSUF. Just two days later, UCR won their second away game and improved their winning streak to four games. After downing the Aggies 67-61, the Highlanders will head home and host UC San Diego on Feb. 22.
