It’s early in the season, but Zyon Pullin has been putting on a show for the UC Riverside men’s basketball team.
Four 20-point performances, including his second game-winner of the season in a 76-74 win at Idaho on Sunday, Dec. 13.
Pullin is living up to his billing as a preseason All-Big West Conference selection.
“The biggest thing is to keep winning and those things (awards) will take care of themselves,” Pullin said.
The 6-foot-4 senior guard is averaging 19.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for the Highlanders (6-3 overall), who traveled this week to take on Oregon on Wednesday night.
“We like our chances,” Pullin said of facing Oregon. “I think we match up really well, so it’s about doing the little stuff well to give ourselves a chance to win.”
Pullin was the Big West Player of the Week after scoring 26 points on 12-of-23 shooting with five rebounds and two assists in a season-high 39 minutes as UCR defeated Idaho. Pullin hit the go-ahead jumper with 1.2 seconds left on the clock.
“Coach decided not to call a timeout and we pushed the pace. I saw a one-on-one opportunity and made the most of it and knocked down the shot,” Pullin said. “When those opportunities come I’m not afraid of the moment. I trust the work I put in.”
The win erased any bad taste UCR had left after letting a 10-point halftime lead at home slip away and losing to California Baptist 65-60 on Nov. 30.
“We had a sour taste in our mouths after losing to (CBU), so it wasn’t hard to motivate the guys. It showed up and they fought the fight,” UCR coach Mike Magpayo said. “We always talk about finding a solution and they found a solution.”
The win at Idaho was the second road victory of the season for the Highlanders.
Pullin also played a major role in an 81-79 win at Loyola Marymount by scoring 23 points and knocking down the winning shot after UCR erased a 20-point deficit.
After Sunday, Pullin ranked 35th nationally in scoring and was closing in on 1,000 points for his UC Riverside career. He entered Wednesday’s game with 955 points and had moved into the program’s Top 10 list for career assists (303).
“I wasn’t even focused on any of that,” Pullin said, “but it’s kind of nice to see the hard work paying off, and the positions that the university has put me in, they’re starting to show.”
Pullin was named CollegeInsider’s National Player of the Week for Nov. 28-Dec. 4 following his performance in the Vegas 4 tournament, where he averaged 22.3 points in three games.
It’s the second Big West Player of the Week award this season for the Highlanders. Flynn Cameron earned the nod for Dec. 5-11.
CMS’ COONEY EARNS ALL-AMERICAN HONOR
Senior cornerback Ben Cooney is the first Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football player to earn first-team Division III All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association, it was announced this week.
Cooney was the SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year after a standout season. CMS had the league’s best defense with just 9.2 points allowed per game. Cooney totaled 44 tackles (29 solo), two interceptions, two forced fumbles and nine pass deflections.
The native of Lisle, Ill., ended his four-year career at CMS with 165 tackles, 11 interceptions and 39 pass deflections. He was also part of teams that won conference titles in 2018 and 2022.
Steve Endemano was a first-team NAIA All-American in 1970 before the program moved to the NCAA Division III level in 1973.
FIELDS OPENS INDOOR SEASON
Cal Poly Pomona junior Ayana Fields earned top-three finishes in the 60- and 400-meter events in Spokane Invitational last weekend to begin the NCAA Indoor Track & Field season.
Fields improved on her personal best in the 60 meters, finishing third in 7.50 seconds to reset the Broncos record. In the 400, Fields finished second with a time of 55.90.
Fields was the CCAA Track Athlete of the Year after winning the 100, 200 and 400 finals at the 2022 CCAA Championships. She placed third in the 200 and second in the 400 finals at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
STREAK SNAPPED
Mt. San Jacinto College men’s basketball team had won eight consecutive games until running into Ventura in the Riverside City College Holiday Tournament.
Led by new coach Trent Skinner, MSJC (8-2 overall) had run off eight straight victories following a season-opening loss to L.A. Southwest. The streak included a 75-60 win over Riverside City.
A slow start doomed the Eagles against Ventura on Saturday, Dec. 10. B.J. Brown scored 13 points and Kyle Render added 12 for MSJC, which opens Inland Empire Athletic Conference play this week.
