RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Phil Martin scored 23 points as UC Riverside held off Cal State Northridge 73-70 on Thursday night.
Javon Borum scored 14 points and Kareem Nitoto 13 for the Highlanders (8-12, 3-5 Big West), who had dropped four straight since beating the Matadors 70-61 on Jan. 13.
Rashaun McLemore and Michael Lizarraga scored 12 points apiece and Lenny Daniel had 11 for the Matadors (8-14, 5-4), who had won four league games in a row.
Vinnie McGhee’s 3-pointer got Cal State Northridge within 72-70 with 19 seconds left. But after Nitoto sank one free throw, Dathan Lyles missed a potential tying 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Cal State Northridge shot 47.8 percent (22 of 46) to 46.8 percent (22 of 47) for the Highlanders and outrebounded them 30-25.