New Beginning: A UC Riverside Dynasty (NCAA Basketball 10)

[Deuce2223]

Finished non-conference above .500, won your first Big West game and landed a 3* recruit. Not a bad start. Hopefully Moody can be a solid player to help build the program around. I personally never played the NCAA Basketball game so I am not familiar with the recruiting. I found it pretty easy in 2K to just stick to California recruits and grab 3* guy's who got over looked and never got a scholarship offer from the bigger school's and they turned out to be instant starters most of the time on my roster.

[xanax12]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deuce2223

Finished non-conference above .500, won your first Big West game and landed a 3* recruit. Not a bad start. Hopefully Moody can be a solid player to help build the program around. I personally never played the NCAA Basketball game so I am not familiar with the recruiting. I found it pretty easy in 2K to just stick to California recruits and grab 3* guy's who got over looked and never got a scholarship offer from the bigger school's and they turned out to be instant starters most of the time on my roster.

Surprisingly I find recruiting in this game rather easy unlike CH2K8, where I usually get players to commit only after the season. I'm still looking for a reasonably-priced xbox 360 version of my favorite basketball game but still no luck.

Btw, just suffered my first glitch, I reported that the Highlanders defeated UC Santa Barbara, it turned out the game wasn't saved (my bad) and after simming to set up the rivalry game against UC Irvine I suddenly heard from the commentators that the Highlanders were riding on a 4-game losing streak. The glitch robbed them of the win and instead handed it over to the Gauchos. My bitter mistake, best to save after every game.

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UCR d. UC Irvine, 67-62

Dec. 11, Irvine CA - UC Riverside snapped its four-game losing streak with a victory against rival UC Irvine in front of a disappointed crowd at the Bren Events Center, 67-62. This is a bittersweet victory for the Highlanders after a victory was taken away from them in their first conference game against UC Santa Barbara last December 3rd.

The jam packed crowd were expecting a blow out of sorts by the favored home team against their most bitter rival however the Highlanders got the better of the Anteaters. It was tough all the way with the Highlanders up at the half, 33-32, after a buzzer-beating trey by Patrick Randle drew the Anteaters close.

It was a pendulum affair at the start of the final canto, the lead swaying back and forth until the final 1:14 when two free throws by Eric Wise tied the count for the last time, 60-all. After a series of misses by both teams, Irvine's leading scorer Michael Hunter scored on a jumper to hand the lead back to the Anteaters, 62-20, with barely 38 seconds left. Sean Cunningham then heaved a shot from beyond the arc to give the lead back to the Highlanders, 63-62, time down to 31.1 seconds. The Anteaters, however, turned the ball over virtually handing the victory to the Highlanders.

Player of the Game Kyle Austin had a double-double 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Highlanders while Brandon Dowdy and Sean Cunningham added 14 and 11. Patrick Randle and Michael Hunter led the Anteaters with 14 and 13 points respectively while Zack Atkinson added 9 markers and a game high 12 rebounds.

[RolePlayer]

You can't get enough of the Big West huh?

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UC Davis d. UCR, 83-61

Dec. 13, Davis CA - Two days after an emotional win against rival UC Irvine, the UC Riverside Highlanders came down crushing with a road defeat against UC Davis before an ecstatic crowd at the Pavilion expecting a close match between two evenly matched teams. It was nothing short of a massacre, the listless Highlanders were totally outplayed, out hustled and outgunned by the Aggies, 83-61. The game was close until a 14-2 run late in the first half gave the Aggies a hefty 46-31 lead at halftime. The Highlanders never came close after that.

Joe Harden fired 20 points for the Aggies to lead all scorers. Todd Lorenzen contributed 17 points and dished out a game high 6 assists to take Player of the Game honors. Dominic Cappotelli and Mark Paine added 12 and 10 respectively. Kurt Schraeder and Sean Cunningham led the Highlanders with 16 and 14 points. Brandon Dowdy finished with 11 while Kyle Austin, the Highlanders' leading scorer, was limited to a season low 4 points.

UCR d. Long Beach State, 69-62

Dec. 20, Riverside CA -UC Riverside improved to a 9-5 home record with a convincing victory against Long Beach State, 69-62. Coming home from a disastrous and forgettable outing at Davis, the Highlanders came alive in the second half with a tenacious defense limiting the 49ers' field shooting to only 37% to come away with he win after being down by 10 at the half, 26-36.

At the start of the second half, the Highlanders immediately took over with a 13-3 run capped by a Kurt Schraeder slam to tie the game at 39-all. After the 49ers nullified a 5-poiont spree by reserve forward Lateef McMullan, the game became a see-saw affair until Kyle Austin broke the last deadlock with a jumper from the right for a 62-60 lead time down to 2:28. After a Long Beach State turnover Brandon Dowden drove in the middle for a 64-60 advantage but just as quick the 49ers came up with an answer. Then freshman Jarod Gilmore finger rolled for a 66-62 lead with 52.8 ticks left. The margin proved to be decisive as the 49ers failed to retaliate.

Kyle Austin broke a slump for a team high 16 points for the Highlanders. Brandon Dowdy and Jared Gilmore finished with 10 and 9 points respectively and Javon Bowden also 9. However it was Sean Cunningham who bagged Player of the Game honors with 7 markers and a game high 8 assists. Andrew Fleming, who fouled out with 3 minutes left, and Larry Anderson led the 49ers with 10 points apiece. Happy for the win but coach Tim Bell still have a big concern going on in his head, the Highlanders were 15 out of 26 from the line for a woeful 58%. Overall it has been a disgrace ___ for the season.

Recruiting: Three-point shooters commit to UC Riverside

Meanwhile, two shooting guards noted for their three-point proficiency finally committed to play for the UC Riverside Highlanders next season. Not heavily scouted as one-star recruits, both Rupert Donahue and Malachi Prince look forward playing for coach Tim Bell. Donahue from Hacienda Heights CA is a 6'1 183-lb shooting guard ranked #1462 and #307 for the position while Prince of Stockton CA, is 6'3 and 200-lb and is ranked #1498 and #315 respectively.

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Quote: Originally Posted by RolePlayer

You can't get enough of the Big West huh?

It's certainly looking that way.

[xanax12]

Pacific d. UCR, 69-62

Jan. 26, Stockton CA - UC Riverside dropped its rivalry game against Pacific in front of a captivating crowd at the Alex G. Spanos Center, 69-62. The Highlanders down 33-28 at the half were behind most of the way as they couldn't get past 40% of their from the field. The Tigers which didn't shoot well either limited them all evening to only 35% from the field, though were out rebounded 38-40 by the Highlanders, apparently the number 1 in rebounds in the conference.

The Highlanders did get close and gave the game a thrilling finish. Twice they tied the game going into the last quarter, the last time at 44-all. The Tigers gained the upper hand each time and were in total control, but the Highlanders managed to stay close with 2:00 remaining after Brandon Dowdy sank a trey for a 62-60 count and had an opportunity to tie the game after a turnover by the Tigers. The Highlanders missed on the ensuing play but Kurt Schraeder picked up two successive offensive boards but uncharacteristically flubbed both his shots. Tigers burly center Everson Souza was fouled and converted both charities. A costly turnover by the Highlanders led to an underneath put back by Souza sealing the victory for Pacific.

Player of the Game Sam Willard and Terrell Smith led the Tigers with 18 and 16 points respectively. Brandon Dowdy and Lateef McMullan were the high pont men for the Highlanders, who are now 3-6 overall on the road, with 12 points apiece. Both Kurt Schraeder and Kyle Austin, who grabbed a game high 11 rebounds before fouling out, had 10.

UCR def. UC Irvine, 69-50

Jan. 28, Riverside CA - UC Irvine made a repeat win against rival UC Irvine much to the delight of an afternoon crowd at the Student Recreation Center with a 69-50 massacre of the Anteaters. The Highlanders went on an early lead, stretched it further and finished the half already with a comfortable margin, 44-27. The listless Anteaters, which were limited to a measly 34% from the field, couldn't take off and going into the final quarter they were down big, 54-33.

Brandon Dowdy was the high point man for the game with 19 points, sophomore center Kurt Schraeder added 13 points for the Highlanders, which outr ebounded the Anteaters 43-28. Patrick Randle and Zack Atkinson led the visitors with 11 and 10 points respectively.

UCR def. Pacific, 66-63

Jan. 31, Riverside CA - UC Riverside got back at Pacific beating its rival with a 66-63 drubbing at home in front of an overflow crowd at the Student Recreation Center. With the back-to-back victory at home, the Highlanders are now back to .500 for the conference and 10-9 overall.

Down 31-35 at the half, the Highlanders immediately got to work tying the ball game at 35-all. It was close from hereon as both teams battled tooth and nail until the final buzzer. A jumper by Kyle Austin gave the Highlanders a 4-point cushion going into the final 1:30 of play. Sam Willard replied with 2 free throws before Brandon Dowdy made good one of his free throws for a 66-63 count, time down to 1:08. Both teams failed to score after that and the Highlanders hanged on to win.

Javon Bowden came out from a minor slump to lead the Highlanders with 12 points and snatch the Player of the Game honors from Brandon Dowdy who also scored 12. Kyle Austin finished with 10 and so did Kurt Schraeder. Terrell Smith was the high point for the game with 14 points for the Tigers, which outrebounded the Highlanders, 32-29, at the boards. Everson Souza added 12 while Sam Willard had a double-double 10 points and a game high 11 rebounds.

Recruiting: Tyrese Holland commits to the Highlanders

Meanwhile, coach Tim Bell got his ninth recruit after one-star Tyrese Holland committed to don the Highlanders jersey next season. Holland, a 6'4 201-lb strong forward shooter from Fresno CA, is ranked #1701 and # 353 for his position.

As it is with 9 seniors graduating and 5 expected holdovers at the end of the season, already 9 players have committed to join the Highlanders next season. Coach Bell has one scholarship left and needs a guard to fill up the puzzle for next year.

Big West Conference Standings - Updated: Jan 31, 2010
TEAM	CONF	PCT	REC	PCT	STRK
UC Santa Barbara	7-1	.875	13-8	.619	W5
Cal State Northridge	7-1	.875	13-8	.619	W3
UC Davis	5-1	.833	13-6	.684	W4
UC Riverside	4-3	.571	11-9	.550	W2
Long Beach State	2-2	.500	10-7	.588	L1
Cal State Fullerton	3-6	.333	11-11	.500	L2
Pacific	3-6	.333	4-18	.182	L1
UC Irvine	3-7	.300	10-13	.435	L4
Cal Poly	1-8	.111	1-21	.045	L7

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Long Beach State def. UCR, 62-61

Feb. 3, Long Beach CA - UC Riverside went back to earth after back-to-back victories at home dropping a very close decision to Long Beach State, 62-61. the 49ers got the Highlanders on the ropes limiting them to a measly 30% shooting at the half to lead by 10, 30-20. It was more before that at 25-12 as the Highlanders couldn't get going with the Long Beach State slow and deliberate offense.

With the game going into the last 7 minutes, Riverside coach Tim Bell ordered a fast and uptempo offense to wake up the listless Highlanders. They began to run. 6 man Lateef McMullan sprang up with 4 quick points and Kyle Austin drove on an assist by McMullan to cut the lead to a manageable 6 points, 53-47, with plenty of time left, 4:17. There was a series of baskets by both teams with the score at 59-54 after an Austin jumper and an Andrew Fleming miss, Brandon Dowdy pumped in a trey from rght quartercourt to move the Highlanders to their closest, 59-58, with 54.3 tocks to go. Fleming would miss again but Casper Ware blocked Dowdy's jumper up close setting up on the other end a hook shot by Lin Chang off Austin, 61-58. Dowdy hit another trey just before the buzzer to settle the final count.

Stephen Gilliam, led the 49ers with 14 points but it was Larry Anderson who took Player of the Game honors adding 13. Mike Davenport came from the bench to contribute 10 while Andrew Fleming finished with 6 markers and a game high 10 boards. Kyle Austin was the only Highlander in double figures with a top scorong 20 points.

UCR def. Cal State Northridge, 69-65

Feb. 8, Riverside CA - UC Riverside avoided losing two straight with a home victory against second-ranked Cal State Northridge, 69-65, in front of a raucous crowd at the Student Recreation Center. Coach Tim Bell changed tatics midway in the second half speeding up the tempo to neutralize the Matadors' big men, which have doinated the inside in both offense and defense.

The Highlanders were slightly down at the half, 34-33, but after a turnover by the Matadors they went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 49-all. The lead was stretched to 6 at 57-51 but the Matadors came back to even the game at 59-all on a drive by Kenny Daniels time down to 4:57. Kyle Austin broke the deadlock with 2 free throws and after the Matadors split their charities, Kurt Schraeder hit an under goal stab and Javon Bowden drove in to give the Highlanders a 5-point cushion, 65-60, with 2:19 remaining. After two free throws by Mark Hill, Brandon Dowdy canned a side jumper for a 67-62 count with 1:58 left. The Matadors weren't done however, Daniels made good a free throw then Hill stole the ball and laid in for 67-65 with 51.3 ticks left. After both teams missed, the Matadors on a last ditch effort went on a a fouling spree. Bowden calmly sank his charities to ensure the win for UC Riverside.

Kyle Austin, the Highlanders leading scorer and rebounder, led his team with 16 points. Brandon Dowdy and Javon Bowden had 13 and 10 respectively. William Gatlin scored a double-double 16 points and a game high 11 rebounds for the visitors while Kenny Daniels and James Darnell added 12 apiece. Mark Hill finished with 10 for the Matadors, which are now a game behind the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in conference standings.