UC Riverside beats Delaware State 81-55 behind Thomas
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) Jaylen Bland and Gentrey Thomas each scored 16 points and UC Riverside beat Delaware State 81-55 Tuesday night in the second round of the Roundball Showcase.
It was a career-high for Thomas, who shot 7 of 10 from the floor and had three steals. Bland made four 3-pointers for the Highlanders, who lost 58-57 to San Francisco in the tournament's opening round on Saturday.
Secean Johnson had 13 points, Menno Dijkstra grabbed eight rebounds, and UC Riverside (3-1) outrebounded the Hornets 43-28 but made just 16 of 23 free throws (70 percent).
Thomas hit a 3 amid a 12-4 run and UC Riverside led 43-28 in the second half. Bland hit back-to-back 3-pointers and the Highlanders pulled away, leading by 22 with 5:50 left after Primitivo Gomez and Thomas each made layups.
DeAndre Haywood scored 15 points for Delaware State (0-4), which shot 36 percent and trailed 34-23 at halftime.
