Boxscore - HTM | PDF

Riverside, CA - Taylor Johns posted an efficient 20 points as UC Riverside shot the Portland State Vikings out of SRC Arena, 88-62, in a non-conference game.

Johns, a junior forward, was 8-10 from the field and 4-6 at the line to get his 20. The Highlanders shot .648 as a team for the game on 35-54 shots. They hit 8-13 three-pointers in the second half, outscoring the Vikings 51-30 after intermission.

After a strong start to the season, Portland State has now lost three straight games, falling to 4-3 overall. UCR won its third straight, improving to 5-3.

PSU trailed 22-14 midway through the first half before getting a spark from DaShaun Wiggins. The senior guard ran off nine straight points to give the Vikings a brief lead at 23-22. The Highlanders answered with an eight-point run of their own to go back on top 30-23 late in the half.

The first half was littered with turnovers as the Vikings committed 11, and the Highlanders had 11. UCR had a 10-point advantage in points off turnovers (14-4) and that contributed to the 37-32 lead.

Wiggins had 11 points by halftime, while Johns put up 11 points for the Highlanders. UCR shot .557 from the field in the half, while the Vikings were at .500.

Riverside got four points from Johns on a 10-2 run, putting it ahead 47-34 a mere three minutes into the second half. The Vikings were briefly within eight a moment later, but then the Highlanders blitzed the Vikings with transition baskets and three-pointers.

UCR scored 25 points off 17 turnovers for the Vikings, and also scored a dozen points on the break for a combined 37-15 advantage on PSU.

Wiggins scored 17 points to lead the Vikings, who shot .438 from the field (21-48). PSU was 3-10 from behind the arc and 17-22 at the line (.773).

Senior guard Gary Winston added 15 points for PSU. Senior forward Tiegbe Bamba led the Vikings with five rebounds.

Junior guard Jaylen Bland scored 17 for UCR, hitting 3-6 three-pointers, and grabbed a game-high six rebounds.

GAME NOTES: After two previous losses, Head Coach Tyler Geving switched up his starting lineup again, going with Tim Douglas, Gary Winston, DaShaun Wiggins, Tiegbe Bamba and Collin Spickerman… PSU's appearance at UC Riverside was its first in 42 years… the Vikings lead the all-time series, 3-2… PSU is now 2-3 on the road this season… Portland State is off for a week before returning to the Stott Center on Dec. 13. The Vikings will host Cal State Bakersfield in an afternoon game that begins at 1:05 p.m. Live video, audio and stats can all be found at GoViks.com. Just click on the Game Day box.