RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Chris Harriel scored 14 points and Taylor Johns added 11, helping UC Riverside snap a seven-game losing streak with a 54-45 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday night.
Chris Patton chipped in 10 points for the Highlanders (6-20, 3-11 Big West), who rebounded from a 75-35 loss to Long Beach State — the fourth game this season in which Riverside scored 40 points or fewer.
Alan Williams had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Gauchos (8-17, 4-10), including two free throws with 14:28 to play that put Santa Barbara ahead 32-29. But Riverside scored the next nine points — six of them by Harriel — to take the lead for good. The Highlanders were 8 of 8 from the free-throw line in the final 1:57 to secure the victory.
Riverside held Santa Barbara to 26 percent shooting and won despite committing 18 turnovers.
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