Last year, the Highlanders averaged 9.9 fewer points per game (72.9) than the Pioneers gave up (82.8).
UC Riverside had a 7-1 record last season when putting up more than 82.8 points.
Denver had a 6-0 record last season when giving up fewer than 72.9 points.
The Pioneers' 82.8 points per game last year were just 4.9 more points than the 77.9 the Highlanders gave up to opponents.
When it scored more than 77.9 points last season, Denver went 13-9.
UC Riverside had an 8-14 record last season when its opponents scored fewer than 82.8 points.
The Highlanders were outscored by a total of 158 points last season (5.0 points per game on average), while the Pioneers had an even point differential on the year.

Last season, the Highlanders had a 43.3% shooting percentage from the field, which was 5.4% lower than the 48.7% of shots the Pioneers' opponents hit.
UC Riverside had a 6-4 straight-up record in games it shot better than 48.7% from the field.
The Pioneers shot 48.0% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 47.1% the Highlanders' opponents shot last season.
Last season, Denver had a 12-4 record in games the team collectively shot higher than 47.1% from the field.

Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply).

The Highlanders and the Pioneers rebounded at around the same clip, averaging 31.6 and 31.4 boards per game last season, respectively.
When UC Riverside earned the rebounding advantage they were 2-14 against the spread. When recording fewer boards, Denver was 4-11.
The Pioneers ranked 215th in rebounding in college basketball, the Highlanders finished 205th.
The Highlanders and the Pioneers were evenly matched on the offensive glass last season, with the teams averaging 8.8 and 9.2 offensive boards per game, respectively.
The Pioneers were 7-6 overall when they won the battle on the offensive boards. The Highlanders were 4-10 when they lost the rebounding edge.
The Pioneers were the 215th-ranked offensive rebounding team in college basketball. The Highlanders finished 225th.
UC Riverside was lackluster on the boards with an average rebounding margin of -0.6 rebounds per game. However Denver helped itself, averaging a margin of 0.7.

The Doug Gottlieb Show