Box Score Los Angeles, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team put a scare into UCLA Wednesday evening, leading by eight at the half, but the Bruins made 10 of 11 shots to start the second period, including all five of their three-pointers to take a lead they would never relinquish en route to a 77-66 victory.

UCLA scored the first basket of the game on a Tony Parker layup, but never led the rest of the half as the Highlanders defense kept the Bruins in check, and the UCR offense made a living outside the three-point line.

UC Riverside shot just 35.3 percent from the floor in the first half, but seven for 17 from beyond the arc to take an eight-point lead into the locker room. Steven Thornton was the Highlander's primary offensive weapon in the first scoring 11 points thanks in part to a three-of-five performance from long distance.

UCR also took great care of the basketball turning it over just four times over the first 20 minutes of play.

The Bruins, meanwhile, made 43.5 percent of their shots in the first period, but were just one for seven from beyond the arc, turned the ball over eight times, and missed seven of 14 from the charity stripe.

UC Riverside did find itself in foul trouble heading into the locker room, however. Thornton and Alex Larsson each had three fouls while Taylor Johns and Robert Boezeman had two apiece.

Larsson picked up his fourth foul of the game on the Bruins first possession of the second half, sending him to the bench. Kevon Looney made both free throws, starting the Bruins on a 7-0 run which cut the UCR advantage to one, 36-35, with just a minute and change gone in the second.

A Johns layup in traffic ended the run, but UCLA scored on each of its next three possessions to take its first lead since the opening minute of the game, 42-41, with 16:01 remaining.

Following the 16-minute media timeout, Isaac Hamilton drained a three-pointer to put the Bruins up four, Parker's layup with 15:04 to go made it 47-41 UCLA.

Over the first seven minutes of the second half, the Bruins made 10 of 11 shots from the field, including five of five from three-point range, while forcing three UCR turnovers.

Larsson was whistled for his fifth foul battling for a rebound with 12:36 remaining, sending him to the bench with the Highlanders trailing by nine.

It was still a seven-point UCR deficit with 8:31 to go when the Highlanders scored five straight points to slice the lead to two, 59-57, but that was as close as UC Riverside would get.

Thornton led the Highlanders with 15 points on the night, and he was joined in double figures by Johns (13), Jaylen Bland (12), Steven Jones (11), and Nick Gruninger (10).

Norman Powell led all scorers with 20 points, while Parker and Bryce Alford added 16 each, Looney chipped in with 12 and Isaac Hamilton scored 11.

The Highlanders take a 10-day break for final exams, returning to the hardwood on Saturday, December 20 against Houston Baptist. Tip at the SRC Arena is scheduled for 1 pm PT.