UCR had cut it to seven on a jumper by Javon Borum. Then, Mark Hill made a 3-pointer to push the lead back up to 10, 71-61. There is three minutes to play. This is still to close to call it a night. Riverside has shot 16 (two more coming) free throws this half.
All these free throws are making the length of this game longer than it should be. The Highlanders are getting the most on-air time since they’re the ones heading to the line the most. Willie Galick just fouled out. There is 4:41 left in this game and the Matadors lead 68-56. Let’s hope five minutes don’t turn into 30 minutes.
That’s the only way UC Riverside is keeping in the game. They must have shot 10 in a row at least. CSUN’s still ahead somewhat comfortably. The Matadors lead 61-49 with seven minutes to go. The whistle blew again and here goes a Highlander to the line.
Rodrigue Mels with the steal, and the dunk … He got up there. Double-digit lead for CSUN. 54-43 with nine minutes to go.
Pretty impressive and-one by Rodrigue Mels. He seriously looked like Kobe Bryant, going up against two defenders, drawing a blocking foul on completing the layup. CSUN’s up 52-43 with 9:52 to go in the game. It’s the Matadors’ biggest lead of the night.
Two passes by Josh Jenkins to Willie Galick were the definition of one end of the spectrum to another. One could have ended Galick’s season. The outlet pass had to be saved by an out-of-bounds-falling Galick out to Rob Haynes. Galick ended up on his behind near a camera man. At the very least he could have twisted an ankle. The other one was beautifully-delivered, however. It ended up in an easy two-hand flush for the forward. Jenkins makes more… Read more
Free throws are shot 15 feet away from the basket. For some reason Kenny Daniels, just like ex-NBA player Nick Van Exel, shoots it from 16. And quietly, the Matadors have made a run to put a little distance in the score. CSUN leads 37-29 with 17:43 left in the game. Mark Hill shot an airball that was caught by Tremaine Townsend and laid in. That gives Townsend six points and six rebounds.
The last possession of the half was a carbon copy of how the game’s gone. UC Riverside had the ball, the Matador defense swarmed them, provoking a battle for a ball that ended up loose in the CSUN paint and that no one was able to pick up before the half-ending buzzer sounded. CSUN’s leading 29-26. Josh Jenkins leads all scorers with 10 points. UC Riverside’s shooting 50 percent from the floor, but has 10 turnovers. CSUN’s got nine.
Exciting times at the Matadome as CSUN’s tied the game at 24-all with 3:50 to go in the first half. More exciting for the home fans is the fact that Josh Jenkins seems to be on. He’s drilled two 3-pointers and has 10 points. His two free throws were the tying points. Long way to go.