UC Riverside tops Hawai’i, 70-64
Dikymbe Martin scored 15 points and Alex Larsson added 13 points tonight to help visiting UC Riverside hold off Hawai’i, 70-64, in Big West Conference men’s basketball action.
An estimated crowd of about 4,200 watched Secean Johnson add 12 points as the Highlanders improved to 6-11 overall and 4-2 in the Big West.
Gibson Johnson scored 16 points, Leland Green added 15 points and Sheriff Drammeh contributed 11 points for the Warriors, who fell to 8-11, 2-4.
After Hawai’i took a 35-34 lead on Noah Allen’s three-point play 80 seconds into the second half, Secean Johnson barely beat the shot clock buzzer with a 3-pointer from the left corner to start a 13-4 run as UC Riverside opened up a 48-38 lead midway through the period.
The Warriors clawed back, however, and eventually tied it at 51-51 after Leland Green hit a mid-range jumper from the left side and then a 3-pointer from the right wing to ignite a 13-3 surge capped by Gibson Johnson’s tip-in putback with 7:26 remaining.
The Highlanders then opened up a 56-51 lead after Gentrey Thomas’ finger roll and then Brandon Rosser’s three-point play with 6:34 left.
UH was able to tie it again at 59-59 on Gibson Johnson’s free throw with 3:14 remaining, but Martin then put UCR ahead for good with a driving layup with 2:25 left.
UC Riverside led at halftime, 34-30, despite not shooting a single free throw. The Highlanders out-rebounded Hawai’i, 14-6, and shot 60 percent (15 of 25) from the field, compared to 42.9 percent (9 of 21) for the Warriors.
UH hit 5 of 10 shots from 3-point range, but was just 4 of 11 from inside the arc.
The Warriors had led, 28-27, after Drammeh’s 3-pointer from the right corner with five minutes remaining, but Johnson answered with a layup 40 seconds later to start UCR on a 7-2 run to end the half.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
(Game photo courtesy Chris Kadooka)
Wednesday’s Results
CSUN 78, at UC Santa Barbara 57
UC Riverside 70, at Hawai’i 64
Thursday’s Games
Cal Poly at UC Irvine
Cal State Fullerton at Long Beach State
Saturday’s Games
CSUN at UC Riverside
UC Irvine at UC Davis
Cal Poly at Cal State Fullerton
UC Santa Barbara at Hawai’i, 7:30 p.m.
Out played and out coached, i think. Dennis Cutts and UCR beat us last year too at SSC.
Dennis Cutts one of several very good BWC coaches. Now Riverside in hunt for top 3 or 4 in conference. And What happened to Noah Allen? Highlanders play good defense.Last 9 games 6 on road. Tough schedule ahead. UCR had 2 of their top guys not at game.Hope warriors can beat UCSB.