RIVERSIDE — The bigger Division I athletes controlled the inside game as host UC Riverside defeated Stanislaus State, 81-65, in an exhibition contest Saturday afternoon.

Prior to the game, UC Riverside gave co-head coach Larry Reynolds a big homecoming welcome. Reynolds was a Highlander from 1973-76 and was an assistant coach for nearly two decades. 

Andy Cleaves scored double digits for the third exhibition with 15 points to lead the Warriors as they wrap-up the preseason. Mat Bradshaw had 12 points and Kyle Gouveia scored nine points with four rebounds in a non-starting role.

However, UCR controlled the inside game, out-rebounding the Warriors 43-27. The Highlanders shot 52 percent from the floor and made 22 of 28 free throws for the 16-point win. Chance Murray had 19 points, Dikymbe Martin and Alex Larsson each scoed 15 to lead Riverside.

Cleaves, who scored 18 points at Nevada and had 17 points at home against Pacific Union, added 15 to his preseason tally. However, he was not as sharp as the past two outings, connection on 4 of 10 shots with three 3-pointers. As a team the Warriors shot 38.1 percent and made just 7 of 20 three-pointers.

Cleaves hit the first two buckets of the game — both three-pointers — to give Stan State a 6-0 lead in the first 30 seconds. Stan State would lead by as many as seven points with 8:30 to play in the first half on a Caleb Basket trey that made it 22-16.

UC Riverside took over from that point on with a 16-2 run for a 10-point lead. However, the Warriors got within five at halftime, 40-35, on a Jaelen Ragsdale three-pointer at the buzzer.

Second half went mostly UCR's way and the Highlanders' ability to make the free throws helped as they led by as many as 19 late in the game.

The Warriors open regular season play next weekend at the Dominican Tip-Off in San Rafael, where they will take on Dominican (Friday at 2 p.m.) and Academy of Art (Saturday at Noon).