UC Riverside basketball teams gearing up for season

The UC Riverside women’s basketball team will open its season on Nov. 4 with a matchup against Santa Clara, under the direction of its new coach, Brad Langston.

Standout returners include Makayla Jackson, who averaged 9.2 points per game this past season with 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists, and Esther Matarranz, who averaged 4.6 points per game with 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Juniors Zoe Tillery and Jordyn Marshall will be stepping into leadership positions this season. The Highlanders have added new players to the team’s roster including Kaylani Polk, Seneca Hackley, Shelley Duchemin, Hannah Wickstrom, Makayla Minshall, Gemma Cutler, Dieynaba Sylla, and TT Hill-Brown.

Freshman Hannah Wickstrom looks to pass the ball during an Oct. 15 practice. The women's basketball team has named assistant Brad Langston as head coach for the upcoming season. Photo / Stan Lim

Langston was officially named the women’s basketball head coach on Sept. 27 after leading the team as interim coach to a turnaround last season.

"I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead this program," Langston said. "It has been an amazing journey with this team, and I am proud of the culture we have built together. I am looking forward to continuing to grow this program, pushing our limits on the court, and supporting each student-athlete's development as both basketball players and individuals. This is a special group, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us."

Wesley Mallette, director of intercollegiate athletics at UCR, applauded Langston's impact. “His coaching helped lead the women to the best single-season turnaround in program history, going from 6-26 to 8-14. He should’ve been named Big West Coach of the Year.”

The women’s team tied with UC Davis for fourth place in the Big West standings.

“We’re trying to establish a standard for what it looks like to win and what it looks like to have continued success,” Langston said.

Players are ready for the season to begin. Said Marshall: “I’m excited. We have a great group this season. Let’s keep chopping away!”

Matarranz, a senior, believes in the team’s potential.

“We have a lot of new faces, and we’re excited about what we can achieve this season,” she said. “With our energy, pace, and athleticism, I think we can go far. Nobody expected us to do well last season, but we got the rhythm going and ended up third. We proved a lot of people wrong.”

Following the season opener against Santa Clara, the Highlanders will face Whittier, Fresno State, Boise State, Pepperdine, Idaho, Cal State San Marcos, and Saint Mary’s. The Highlander’s first home game is Nov. 8 against Whittier at the SRC arena. Their first conference game is scheduled for Dec. 4 at home against Cal State Northridge.

Visit the UCR Athletics site for more information on the UCR women’s basketball team.

basketball mens — Sophomores Kaleb Smith, left, and Barrington Hargress look on during an Oct. 1 practice. Hargress, who scored 12.6 points per game in his first season with UCR, has been named All Big West for the preseason. Photo / Stan Lim

Men’s Basketball

The UC Riverside men’s basketball team, led by head coach Mike Magpayo, is set for its first away game on Nov. 4 at Oregon State.

Returning players include Barrington Hargress, named Big West freshman of the year last season averaging 12.6 points a game with 3.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists; Isaiah Moses, 12.2 points per game, 2.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists; Nate Pickens, 9.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 2 assists; Kaleb Smith, 7.5 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists. Senior Luke Turner steps into a leadership role this season, guiding both returning players and newcomers. The Highlanders have added six new players to their roster: Jack Whitbourn, Tyler Jones, David Manea, Parker Strauss, and Joel Armotrading.

Last season, UC Riverside finished in sixth place in the Big West Conference, following its first 20-win season at the Division I level the previous year.

Anthony Lorenzo joins the men’s basketball coaching staff this season as an assistant coach.

Junior forward Nate Pickens drives downcourt during an Oct. 1 men's basketball practice. Photo / Stan Lim

“I expect big things from this team. We’ve added so many great pieces. We’re definitely going to be faster, and I believe we’ll be a strong defensive team,” said redshirt sophomore Barrington Hargress. “This team has all the capabilities to win the conference.”

“This is one of the closest teams I’ve ever been on,” said senior Luke Turner. “We all have the same goal, to win the Big West and make it to the NCAA tournament. We’ve been training hard, and I’m confident it will pay off.”

Following their season opener at Oregon, the team will face BYU, Cal Baptist, La Sierra, Santa Clara, Colorado State, Alcorn State, Idaho, St. Francis, Montana State, UNLV, and St. Thomas.

“The goal for this team is to go for a Big West title,” said Magpayo. “I think these guys really have a chance to do it, especially with one of the toughest schedules we’ve ever had.”

The Highlanders first home game will be on Nov. 14 against La Sierra at the SRC arena. Big West conference play will begin with an away game against Cal State Northridge on Dec. 5

Visit the UCR Athletics site for more information about the UCR men’s basketball team.