Thursday, January 3
Northridge, CA
7:05 pm
University of California, Riverside
65
at
64
Cal State Northridge
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Men's Basketball Scores Five Points Over Final 33.2 Seconds For 65-64 Win Over CSUN
1/3/2013 11:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Northridge, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team found itself trailing Cal State Northridge by four points with 33.2 seconds remaining Thursday evening, but Chris Patton scored the final five points of the game including the go-ahead bucket with 11 seconds to go, and the Highlanders picked up the 65-64 Big West Conference win (Box Score / Audio Highlights / Video of Game Winning Basket).
Neither team led by more than five points in the second half, and there were 10 ties and five lead changes, but it was the Matadors (9-5, 1-1) up four with under a minute to go following a Josh Greene three-pointer with 42 seconds on the clock.
The Highlanders (4-10, 1-1) called time out with 33.2 seconds to go, and on their subsequent possession, pounded the ball inside to Patton who scored on the lay up and drew a foul. After converting the three-point play, UCR forced Landon Drew into a turnover in the Northridge back court, giving the Highlanders the ball with 22 seconds remaining.
After a CSUN timeout, UC Riverside went inside once again to Patton who picked up the game-winner on yet another shot in the post. It was an effective strategy all night long as the junior transfer went 8 of 10 from the floor for a career-high 19 points.
He wasn't the only player benefiting from the Highlanders desire to pound the ball inside as 52 of UCR's 65 points on the night came in the paint. Josh Fox added 13 points and Chris Harriel chipped in with 11 in the victory, as the Highlanders connected on 53.8 percent of their shots from the field. On the defensive end of the floor, UC Riverside limited Cal State Northridge to 38.9 percent shooting.
The first half wasn't much different as neither team led by more than six points over the first 20 minutes of play. The UCR offense has struggled on occasion this season, and over a four minute stretch midway through the first, the Matadors turned a three-point Highlanders advantage into a five point CSUN lead. A Taylor Johns dunk on UC Riverside's next trip down the floor ended the spurt, and the Highlanders were able to climb to within two at the break, 32-30.
The Highlanders remain on the road this weekend as they travel to the Aloha State for a Saturday, 9 m PT meeting with Hawai'i.
Neither team led by more than five points in the second half, and there were 10 ties and five lead changes, but it was the Matadors (9-5, 1-1) up four with under a minute to go following a Josh Greene three-pointer with 42 seconds on the clock.
The Highlanders (4-10, 1-1) called time out with 33.2 seconds to go, and on their subsequent possession, pounded the ball inside to Patton who scored on the lay up and drew a foul. After converting the three-point play, UCR forced Landon Drew into a turnover in the Northridge back court, giving the Highlanders the ball with 22 seconds remaining.
After a CSUN timeout, UC Riverside went inside once again to Patton who picked up the game-winner on yet another shot in the post. It was an effective strategy all night long as the junior transfer went 8 of 10 from the floor for a career-high 19 points.
He wasn't the only player benefiting from the Highlanders desire to pound the ball inside as 52 of UCR's 65 points on the night came in the paint. Josh Fox added 13 points and Chris Harriel chipped in with 11 in the victory, as the Highlanders connected on 53.8 percent of their shots from the field. On the defensive end of the floor, UC Riverside limited Cal State Northridge to 38.9 percent shooting.
The first half wasn't much different as neither team led by more than six points over the first 20 minutes of play. The UCR offense has struggled on occasion this season, and over a four minute stretch midway through the first, the Matadors turned a three-point Highlanders advantage into a five point CSUN lead. A Taylor Johns dunk on UC Riverside's next trip down the floor ended the spurt, and the Highlanders were able to climb to within two at the break, 32-30.
The Highlanders remain on the road this weekend as they travel to the Aloha State for a Saturday, 9 m PT meeting with Hawai'i.
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