IRVINE, Calif. (AP) -Dwight Gordon scored 19 points and Kyle Austin had 18 Saturday as UC Riverside snapped a five-game losing streak with a 65-56 victory over UC Irvine.
The Highlanders (8-11, 2-5 Big West) scored the final eight points of the game to pull away in what had been a back-and-forth game that featured 21 lead changes and 15 ties.
Neither team led by more than three points in the second half until Riverside broke a 52-52 tie on back-to-back baskets by Gordon and a free throw from Austin with 2:41 left in the game.
Irvine (9-11, 3-5) hit four straight free throws to pull within 57-56 with 1:24 remaining, but a jumper by Austin and six straight free throws in the final minute closed out the victory.
Irvine was led by Michael Hunter with 20 points and Eric Wise with 14.
Lateef McMullen added 11 points for Riverside.
