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

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UC Riverside breaks 3-game losing skein, beats UC Irvine 70-56

Jan. 30 Riverside CA - UC Riverside got back at arch rival UC Irvine to finally break their 3-game losing skein with an impressive 70-56 victory in front of a overflowing crowd at the Student Recreation Center.

With the game tied 35-all at the half, both teams played tough until the final 3:27 minutes when the Highlanders widened the gap to its biggest 10 points at 62-52. After the Anteaters made a mini 4-0 run, the Highlanders responded with 6 straight unanswered pointsto restore the lead comfortably with time down to 1:02. A block and a defensive rebound by Jared Gilmore on the return play sealed the fate of the Anteaters.

Scoring was well balanced for both teams with only one player per team in double figures. Matt Olsen led the Highlanders with 10 points. Jared Gimore added 7 but hauled down at a prodigious 20 rebounds. Quinn Moody likewise had 7 and together with Olsen and Jalonni Diggs dished out 5 assists apiece. Eric Wise was the game's high point man with 14 points for the Anteaters. Brandon Scott who had 20 points in their first meeting was limited to only 7.

Head coach Tim Bell, somewhat relieved, hopes the Highlanders maintain their momentum and composure when they play host to the conference leading Long Beach State 49ers on February 5.

2 in-a-row as UC Riverside defeats Long Beach State, 76-65

Feb. 5 Riverside CA - UC Riverside made it two in-a-row in another rousing performance taking down Long Beach State, 76-65 before raucous crowd at the Student Recreation Center. The Highlanders avenged their 70-72 loss to the 49ers the first time they met on last January 17.

The Highlanders went out on an early 12-2 run before the 49ers caught fire. They led 38-32 at the half and were comfortably ahead 66-57 with 4:56 remaining. By the final minute mark, the 49ers led by the fiery T.J. Robinson cut the lead to only 6, 71-65. But it proved to be their last straw. After Jared Gilmore split his charities with 48.5, the 49ers would miss twice at the 3-point arch.

Jared Gilmore, who grabbed a monster 20 boards against UC Irvine, had another explosive performance with a game high double-double 21 points and 11 rebounds. Quinn Moody finally came out of his scoring slump pumping in 11 markers while Matt Olsen and Corey Meyer, a starter for the second straight game, added 9 apiece. T.J. Robinson finished with 16 points to lead the 49ers while both Anthony Hill and Larry Anderson had 15.

UC Riverside remains at home when they play against the Cal Poly Mustangs, who like the Highlanders are on a 2-game winning streak, tomorrow February 6.

Big West 2010-2011 Conference Standings - Updated: Feb 5, 2011
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	GB	STRK
UC Santa Barbara	8-2	.800	14-9	.609	-1
Long Beach State	7-3	.700	15-8	.652	-1
UC Irvine	5-4	.625	10-11	.476	1
UC Davis	5-3	.625	9-12	.429	2
UC Riverside	6-5	.545	16-8	.667	2
Pacific	5-5	.500	8-15	.348	-1
Cal Poly	3-6	.333	11-11	.500	2
Cal State Northridge	3-7	.300	3-20	.130	-3
Cal State Fullerton	1-9	.100	1-22	.043	-5

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Cal Poly routs UC Riverside, 82-63

Feb. 6 Riverside CA - Cal Poly snapped UC Riverside's 2-game winning streak with a shattering 82-63 rout at the Student Recreation Center. It was the Mustangs third consecutive win as the Mustang slowly but surely climb up the Big West Conference ladder.

The Highlanders had no answer to Cal Poly's vaunted pressing defense turning the ball 23 times in the course of the game, 13 of them coming in the first half allowing the Mustangs to take the upper hand early before halftime ended at 38-27.

The Mustangs main man, Shaun Lewis, was having a field day shooting the daylights out at UC Riverside and big men Jared Gilmore and Corey Meyer plagued with early foul troubles the Highlanders never got back in the groove. Each time they make a serious move Lewis would singlehandedly reply. Lewis had a game high 28 points while center Ben Hartmen, who dominated the middle, added 10 points and a game high 8 rebounds. Quinn Moody was the only Highlander in double figures with 17 points.

UC Riverside tries to avenge the defeat from Cal Poly when the Highlanders take on the Mustangs on the road at the Mott Gym in San Luis Obispo on February 16. But before that Highlanders have a must-win game against cellar-dwelling Cal State Fullerton led by Jacques Skinner at the Titan Gym on February 10.

UC Riverside humbled by cellar dweller Cal State Fullerton, 65-59

Feb. 10 Fullerton CA - UC Riverside failed to mount any aggression on the road and lost to Cal State Fullerton, 65-59, in front of a delighted crowd at the Titan Gym. It was only the Titans the second victory this season while the Highlanders fall further below .500 with a 6-7 record in the conference.

Halftime score was 32-24 in favor of the Titans and they were never threatened by the listless Highlanders, which got closest at 6 points. Jacques Skinner was the game high scorer with 24 big points for the Titans. Brian Carty added 12 points while Bryce Webster had 7 but grabbed a game high 11 rebounds. Kurt Schraeder and Matt Olsen led the Highlanders with 12 markers apiece.