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.