RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Micheal Warren had 25 points, and Cal State Northridge built a big first-half lead and held on to beat UC Riverside 73-71 on Wednesday night.

Warren scored 10 points in the first three minutes, and Cal State Northridge led by 20 with six minutes to play before the break.

Alex Larsson scored a dunk to give UC Riverside its first lead, 71-70 with 3:09 left. Warren answered with a 3-point play to cap the scoring with 2:48 remaining.

The Matadors' Tre Hale-Edmerson blocked Taylor Johns' shot on the next possession, but Cal State Northridge committed three turnovers and missed the front end of two one-on-one attempts in the final two minutes to keep the Highlanders in it.

UC Riverside (13-12, 4-5 Big West) missed a field-goal attempt on two straight possessions, and then had two turnovers in the final 23 seconds to seal it for the Matadors (8-14, 3-5).

Jaylen Bland scored 22 points to lead the Highlanders.