UCD's Jason Cox goes for the basket past CSUSB's Eric Maye in second-half action of Friday night's game. Photo by Max Whittaker / Aggie

With the wins, UCD improved its record to 22-5 overall, and 18-4 in conference, while CSUSB fell to 20-7 and 16-6 over the weekend. UCR finishes its regular season 14-13 and 10-12.

Even though the Aggies clinched a tie for first in the California Collegiate Athletic Association by defeating San Bernardino, Saturday night's game was by no means trivial. UCD needed a victory against Riverside to insure the Aggies a top seed at next weekend's West Regional tournament in Ellensburg, Washington.

To get them the win, the Aggies needed to rely heavily on their starters. Post Jason Cox recorded his first double-double of the season, pulling down 12 rebounds and scoring 18 points. Point guard Dante Ross scored 20 points and went six for 11 from the field and seven for eight from the line. Ross' 20 points led all scorers.

Freshman post Jordan Moss contributed 14 points and had six rebounds.

The Aggies dominance inside was the deciding factor in the game. UCD outrebounded Riverside 43-36, scored 10 more points in the paint and had five more second-chance points than the Highlanders.

In addition to UCD's tough play in the low post, its defense held UCR to just three points in the first eight minutes of the second half. Riverside's primary scoring threat, guard Tony Vares, was hampered by a wrist injury in the second, which made it easier for the Aggies to pull away down the stretch.

However, it wasn't all cake for the Ags in the second. After being stifled in the first eight minutes, Riverside turned it around and scored 25 points in the final 12 minutes of play.

"It's a concentration thing," said UCD head coach Brian Fogel of his team's late game lapse, "We lost concentration and we let them back in a little."

But the Aggies 12-point lead and steady play on offense proved to be too much to overcome for Riverside, and UCD never led by less than five points during the final 10 minutes of the game.

UCD's Jason Cox airs over CSUSB's Ryan Sylva during Friday night's win. Photo by Max Whittaker / Aggie

Friday night's game against San Bernardino carried far more weight for both teams. CSUSB entered the night tied for second in league and, if the Coyotes had won both their weekend games, would have tied for first in the CCAA or won it outright.

But that was not to be, as the Aggie defense and Cox-Ross tandem proved to be too much to handle for San Bernardino. The UCD victory assured them a tie for first in league.

"It is a great accomplishment for this team," Cox said. "It was one of the goals we set for ourselves in preseason. We wanted to win league and do damage in Regionals."

Cox led the Aggies with 17 points and Ross' 12 was second on the team. Wing Scott Darmstadt provided his usual spark off the bench on both nights - his seven rebounds Friday led the team, while Saturday, Darmstadt's three three-pointers came at crucial times in the game.

For San Bernardino, guards Jimmy Alapag and Phil Johnson led the Highlanders with 16 and 21 points, respectively. However, it was what Alapag didn't do that may have had the most influence on the game's final outcome. With five seconds left and his team down by three, Alapag let a pass go through his legs and out of bounds, turning the ball over to the Aggies and all but icing the victory for Davis.

"It wasn't a perfect pass, but I take the blame," Alapag said. "Unfortunately, things like that happen, and you come up a little short.