UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball


The UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team represents the University of California, Riverside in Riverside, California, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big West Conference and their head coach is Gus Argenal, who is in his first year with the program. The Highlanders play their home games at the Student Recreation Center Arena. The program had its greatest success as a Division II program, making it to three Final Fours and the national title game in 1995.
In 2020, the future of the program was placed into doubt, as UC Riverside's leadership reportedly began considering cutting the university's entire athletics department in response to financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in May 2021, the university announced that they had decided against eliminating athletics and will continue competing at the NCAA Division I level in all sports, thus saving the men's basketball program from extinction.
WWW gohighlanders.com/sports/...

Postseason

NIT results

The Highlanders have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.
2025First RoundSanta ClaraL 62–101

NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Highlanders appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament 17 times. Their combined record was 29–18.
1970Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd-place game		Boise State
Puget Sound
Saint Joseph's
Philadelphia Textile
Buffalo State		W 83–71
W 83–71
W 82–77
L 63–79
W 94–83
1972Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Seattle Pacific
UC Irvine		L 63–68
W 94–75
1973Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight		Somona State
Puget Sound
Cal State Bakersfield
Brockport State		W 70–68
W 71–51
W 61–54
L 70–79
1974Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight		Chico State
Somona State
New Orleans		W 62–51
W 71–56
L 78–83
1975Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight		UC Davis
Puget Sound
New Orleans		W 78–77
W 59–58
L 59–73
1979Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		San Diego
Puget Sound		W 62–48
L 52–77
1980Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight		Puget Sound
Cal Poly SLO
North Alabama		W 65–61
W 62–53
L 69–76
1984Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		San Francisco State
Chapman		L 57–65
W 74–71
1986Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Alaska-Anchorage
Cal Poly SLO		L 83–86
W 55–53
1988Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		St. Cloud State
Ferris State		W 78–71
L 64–80
1989Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd-place game		Somona State
Cal State Bakersfield
Millersville
Southeast Missouri State
Jacksonville State		W 79–65
W 63–60
W 92–86
L 83–84 OT
W 90–81
1990Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Central Missouri State
Humboldt State		L 59–69
L 70–71
1991Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Cal State Bakersfield
Chico State		L 52–75
W 90–82
1992Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		Grand Canyon
Cal State Bakersfield		W 74–61
L 70–72 OT
1994Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		San Francisco State
Cal State Bakersfield		W 78–61
L 62–75
1995Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship Game		UC Davis
Seattle Pacific
Morningside
Indiana
Southern Indiana		W 84–66
W 74–68
W 71–58
W 73–69
L 63–71
1997Regional QuarterfinalsMontana State-BillingsL 86–97