RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP)—Steffan Johnson scored 11 points and Bryan LeDuc added 10 off the bench as visiting Pacific used a 41-point second half to outlast feisty UC Riverside, 65-58, on Wednesday night.
The Tigers (21-9, 10-5 Big West) overwhelmed the Highlanders (7-20, 3-12) by shooting 66 percent from the field.
Michael Nunnally added 10 points, Johnson had seven assists and every Pacific player scored.
Riverside led, 29-24, at halftime, thanks in part to 12 Tigers turnovers.
Pacific surged ahead in the second half, but the Highlanders caught them at 49-49 on Sean Cunningham’s 12-foot jumper with 7:37 remaining.
From there, Pacific used a 14-4 run to put the game away.
With the loss, Riverside must win at home against UC Davis on Saturday to clinch a berth into next week’s Big West tournament in Anaheim, which takes eight of the conferences nine teams.
Riverside’s Larry Cunningham led all scorers with 18 points.
