RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Senior Devin Gibson nearly posted his third 20-point game of the season, but UC Riverside used 10 3-pointers to score an 82-75 victory against UTSA on Thursday night at the Student Recreation Center.
Gibson poured in 19 points and posted five steals, three assists and three rebounds for the Roadrunners, who fell to 4-2 on the season. Freshman Jeromie Hill added 14 points and a team-high eight boards, while sophomore Melvin Johnson III scored 13 on the strength of three 3-pointers.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders entered the game averaging four 3-pointers per game and shooting just 33.8 percent from beyond the arc, but used a 10-for-21 (47.6%) effort from downtown to run their record to 3-4 on the year. Kareem Nitoto made 4-of-7 from three-land en route to 19 points, while Javon Borum and Phil Martin both registered a team-high 22 points on three treys apiece.
Both teams dialed up from long distance in the first half, as UCR was 6-for-10 and UTSA made 7-of-15 from beyond the arc.
The Highlanders opened up an 18-10 lead midway through the half on the strength of three treys, but UTSA rallied to knot the score at 26-all. Johnson III drained a trio of 3-pointers and freshman Tyler Wood connected from downtown to tie things up with 7:38 left in the first.
UCR went back in front by eight with less than two minutes remaining, but Gibson nailed treys on back-to-back possessions and made a pair of free throws after coming up with his third theft to help the Roadrunners get to within 40-38 at the break.
The Highlanders stayed hot from downtown to begin the second half, as Phil Martin found the bottom of the net from the corner and Kareem Nitoto hit on consecutive chances to help build the lead to 53-42.
UC Riverside's lead grew to as many as 13 before UTSA rallied.
Hill scored five points to help kick-start an 8-4 run that pulled the Roadrunners to within 71-62 with 4:27 remaining.
A Nitoto trey gave UCR a 77-64 lead less than one minute later, but Gibson made 1-of-2 at the line and then hit back-to-back baskets to make it a 79-73 contest with 2:08 to play.
The Highlanders held on from there, overcoming three late turnovers to even the all-time series at 1-1.
The Roadrunners continue the West Coast swing at Pepperdine (3-5) on Saturday. Tip is slated for 9 p.m. (CT) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, Calif.
