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The UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team represents the University of California, Riverside, and currently competes in the Big West Conference at the NCAA Division I level. The team's greatest success came as a Division II program, making it to three Final Fours and the national title game in 1995. However, UC Riverside faced financial strain during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, the university affirmed their commitment to continuing NCAA Division I athletic programs, including the men's basketball team.
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UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team
The UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team represents the University of California, Riverside in Riverside, California. The team plays in the Big West Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. The Highlanders' nickname was inspired by the high altitude of the campus, which is located in the foothills of Box Springs Mountain.
The Highlanders play their home games at the Student Recreation Center Arena, which has a seating capacity of 3,168. The team's current head coach is Gus Argenal, who was hired in 2025 following a successful Division II coaching career at Cal State San Bernardino. Under Argenal's leadership, CSUSB made five straight Division II NCAA Tournament appearances and achieved four consecutive seasons with a tournament win. As a head coach, he holds an impressive 5-2 record in NCAA Tournament play.
The UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team had their greatest success as a Division II program, reaching three Final Fours and the national title game in 1995. In 1998, the students voted to increase their fees to fund the athletic programs and move to Division I competition. In 2000, UC Riverside officially transitioned to NCAA Division I.
In 2020, the future of the athletics department was threatened due to financial strains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the university decided against eliminating athletics, ensuring the continuation of the men's basketball program. The team's first year Division I head coach, Mike Magpayo, emphasised the importance of athletics in elevating the university's national relevance.
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NCAA Division I level
The UC Riverside Highlanders basketball team competes at the NCAA Division I level. The team is part of the Big West Conference, which includes other University of California schools as well as rivals from across California.
The Highlanders' men's basketball team has experienced recent success, with five consecutive wins in the 2022-23 season and a record of 15-9 overall and 8-4 in the Big West Conference. The team was competing for first place in the conference in March 2023, and head coach Mike Magpayo was named the 2022-23 Big West Coach of the Year. Magpayo, who took over as head coach in 2020, is the first Asian-American head coach at the Division I level.
The women's basketball team has also had notable achievements, making their first appearance at the NCAA Tournament in 2006. The team opened their 2023 season with a matchup against Santa Clara, led by coach Brad Langston.
UC Riverside's move to Division I athletics was initiated by a student referendum in 1998, which resulted in a fee increase to fund the transition. The athletics program faced financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a projected loss of state funds and the potential elimination of all sports teams. However, the university community rallied behind the #KeepUCRAthletics campaign, showcasing the importance of athletics in campus culture and camaraderie.
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Big West Conference
The Big West Conference (BWC) is an American collegiate athletic conference whose member institutions participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The conference was originally formed on July 1, 1969, as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA). It was renamed the Big West Conference in 1988.
The conference's member institutions are primarily located in California, with nine out of its eleven members based in Southern California. The remaining two members are located in Hawaii and Utah respectively. The Hawaii member institution will be leaving for the Mountain West Conference in 2026. The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is one of the members of the Big West Conference. UCR's varsity teams compete in the Big West Conference of NCAA Division I. Their sports teams are known as the Highlanders, a name inspired by the high altitude of the campus, which lies on the foothills of Box Springs Mountain.
UCR's athletics program includes men's and women's soccer, cross country, basketball, track and field, baseball, softball, tennis, golf, and women's volleyball. In 2007, UCR's baseball team won their first Big West championship and reached the Division I postseason. The volleyball and basketball teams play their home games in the Student Recreation Center Arena (SRC), which seats 3,168. The baseball team plays at the Riverside Sports Complex, which was built to major league standards by UCR graduate Troy Percival.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, UC Riverside faced the possibility of eliminating its Division I athletics program due to financial constraints. However, it appears that the program was able to survive as subsequent sources mention UC Riverside in the context of Division I sports.
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Head coach Gus Argenal
UC Riverside's basketball team, the Highlanders, compete in the Big West Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I.
Argenal was named the head coach of UC Riverside's men's basketball team in 2025, replacing Mike Magpayo. Argenal joined the university after a successful stint as head coach at Cal State San Bernardino, where he won 50 games in two years and led the team to two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Division II final four.
Argenal has deep ties to California basketball. As a player, he was a star point guard at UC Davis, where he holds the school record for most assists in a single game (13). He then went on to become an assistant coach at Arkansas, before taking on his first head coaching role at CSUSB in 2023-24. During his two seasons at CSUSB, Argenal established the university as a Division II powerhouse, with five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and four consecutive seasons with a tournament win.
Argenal's success in player development, recruiting, and postseason play has made him one of the most accomplished rising coaches in men's college basketball. With 19 years of collegiate coaching experience, he has been part of six NCAA Tournament appearances and contributed to 12 tournament wins as a head coach and assistant. As a head coach, he holds an impressive 5-2 record in NCAA Tournament play.
Argenal's appointment signals UC Riverside's commitment to building a competitive and disciplined basketball program. His leadership and experience are expected to elevate the Highlanders to new heights, with the university aiming to build on the success of the previous five years, which included the team's first-ever postseason appearance in the NCAA Division I era.
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Student Recreation Center Arena
The Student Recreation Center Arena, or SRC Arena, is located within the UC Riverside Student Recreation Center. The SRC, which opened in 1994, is an award-winning facility offering various amenities and services for physical fitness, sports activities, and general recreation for UCR students.
The SRC Arena is home to the UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball teams. The arena has a seating capacity of 3,168 and offers full locker rooms for the teams. The athletics department for UC Riverside is also located within the building.
In addition to the arena, the SRC features a 6,000 square foot weight training facility and a 3,000 square foot cardio-fitness area. The facility also includes a large swimming pool, tennis courts, an indoor running track, racquetball/wallyball courts, a squash court, and a classroom kitchen. The SRC also boasts an indoor climbing wall and a boulder, known as "The Rock".
The UC Riverside Highlanders compete in the Big West Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. The teams' nickname, the Highlanders, was inspired by the high altitude of the campus, which is located in the foothills of Box Springs Mountain.
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Frequently asked questions
UC Riverside Basketball is Division I.
The Highlanders.
The Big West Conference.
