Riverside, CA--The UC Riverside Men's Basketball program is honoring Howard Lee '72 and Boo Purdom '95 this season as part of its Bring Back The Past series.

Lee's career is being celebrated Saturday, January 23 at halftime of the Highlanders 4 pm tip against Long Beach State. Purdom takes center stage on Saturday, February 6 when UC Riverside hosts UC Davis at 7 pm.

Despite playing just three years for the Highlanders, Lee's name is still featured prominently in the program's record book. His 1,004 career rebounds are 259 more than Sam Cash's total in the number two spot, and he is UC Riverside's career leader in field goals, free throws and free throw attempts. He is also second in career points, scoring average and rebound average.

In 1969-70, Lee posted his best statistical season averaging 20.9 points and 13.0 rebounds. The Highlanders finished 7-1 in the CCAA that season winning the regular season championship, going 19-10 overall and winning the NCAA West Regional Championship, UC Riverside would post another 19-win season during Lee's senior season, once again advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

Purdom is the Highlanders; career leader in field goal percentage, connecting on a remarkable 66.2 percent of his shots during his time in the Inland Empires. He established the program single-season field goal percentage record in 1993-94 when he made more than seven out of every 10 shots he took (.711). The following season, he posted the second highest field goal percentage in UC Riverside history of .621,

Those Highlanders teams of the early to mid '90s won 20 or more games six straight years culminating in Purdom's senior season, when they went 26-6 and advanced to their first-ever NCAA Championship game before falling to Southern Indiana.

Tickets to both Bring Back The Past games and all Highlanders athletics events may be purchased by contacting the UC Riverside athletics Ticket Office at (951) 827-4653.