Riverside—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team ran its home record to 11-2 Thursday evening, moving into a three-way tie for fifth place in the Big West with a 64-62 victory over visiting UC Santa Barbara.

Alan Williams was back in the lineup for the Gauchos after missing the last seven games with an injury. He only took four shots from the field on the night, but made 8 of 10 from the free throw line, finishing with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double.

The Highlanders (13-13, 6-6) led by one, 38-37, with 14:54 to go in the game, when their offense caught fire rattling off 14 straight points. Jaylen Bland scored eight of his 21 points during the run, and UC Riverside appeared to have the game in hand.

It was still an 11-point lead with 3:26 to go, but UC Santa Barbara (13-12, 6-5) made one final run, trailing by three with under a minute to go. The Highlanders turned the ball over with 20 seconds left on the clock, though, and John Green hit a jumper with six seconds remaining to slice the lead to one.

The Gauchos fouled Bland as soon as UCR inbounded the ball, and the junior hit one of his two free throws. UCSB sprinted down the court, and Eric Childress launched a three at the buzzer, but it was off the mark, and the Highlanders had the win in hand.

Taylor Johns also finished with 21 points for UC Riverside while Green led the Gauchos with 17. He was joined in double figures by Michael Bryson (13), DaJuan Smith (10) and Williams.

With 13 wins, the 2014-15 version of the Highlanders now have the third most victories in the Division I history of the program.

The Highlanders remain at home this Saturday for a 7 pm PT tip against Cal Poly.