The UC Riverside athletics community continues to mourn the death of Kyle Owens.
Owens, who played for the Highlanders men’s basketball team from 2022-24, succumbed in his battle with cancer on Sept. 30. He was 24.
“It’s rare to come across a young man of the Kyle Owens kind. A superhero of sorts,” former UC Riverside men’s basketball coach Mike Magpayo said in an extensive tribute on the UCR website. “Strong, athletic, tough, a great teammate, and an incredible leader.”
The 6-foot-8, sweet-shooting power forward will be remembered as much for his on-court heroics — he hit a game-winning buzzer-beater to beat Cal State Bakersfield in during the 2023-24 season — as well as his humility and strength off the court.
“A young man who lived every day on purpose,” Magpayo said. “Whether it was off the court, where he managed to graduate with two degrees with honors (including an MBA), or it was the work ethic he showed to make himself a great player.”
Owens prepped at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino. He started his college career at the University of Montana, earning All-Big Sky Conference academic honors. He was a graduate transfer at UC Riverside, appearing in 51 games for the Highlanders, highlighted by a legacy-defining double-double in UCR’s Vegas Championship victory over Wright State.
“Kyle was an amazing young man who was not only a gifted student-athlete, but a kind, engaging, and beautiful soul,” former UC Riverside athletic director Wesley Mallette said. “His strength, will, and determination carried over from the basketball court into everything he did, and he used his superpowers to be a force for good in this world.”
Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Owens’ final collegiate campaign was cut short after he complained of fatigue to training staff midway through the 2023-24 season.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented young people throughout my career, but Kyle was different,” UC Riverside athletic director Michelle Almazan said. “He carried himself with a quiet strength and a genuine heart that touched everyone around him.
“On the court he was relentless, always pushing himself to be better, and off the court he was the same, a leader, a teammate, and a friend who lifted others up. His work ethic was unmatched,” Almazan said. “He never backed down from a challenge and he never stopped believing in what was possible.”
Owen’s battle against leukemia rallied support throughout the Big West and around college basketball. The Big West partnered with the National Marrow Donor Program, raising awareness for the need for blood stem cell donors.
“(Owens) was more than an outstanding basketball player, he was a son, a teammate, a role model and a source of joy and inspiration to so many,” Big West commissioner Dan Butterly said. “To his fans and the broader community who gave of their time and talent to raise awareness and support for the NMDP, may we honor his memory by carrying forward the passion, kindness and courage he showed every day.”
To support the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), contact (800) MARROW-2 or email questions@NMDP.org.
RCC HIRES WILSON
The Riverside City College men’s basketball team will have a familiar face on the sideline the season.
Andre Wilson, who played for the Tigers from 2016-18, was announced as the replacement for Phil Mathews, who retired in April after 12 seasons.
“RCC is home for me,” Wilson said. “Being able to provide the same that I was given for these new guys coming up (is) big for me.”
Wilson led RCC to back-to-back Southern California Regional playoff appearances before transferring to Dixie State to complete his collegiate career. He returned to Riverside and had been an assistant coach since 2020.
The Tigers open the season at the Ventura College Tournament on Oct. 30.
CBU POLO SWEEPS
The California Baptist University men’s water polo team is rolling after the Gary Troyer tournament.
The nationally-ranked Lancers (15-7 overall) won all four games, including a 12-11 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Sunday — ahead of the start of West Coast Conference play this week. Sophomore center Rafa Martinez (Riverside Poly High) scored three goals in the win.
CBU hosts Pepperdine at Lancers Aquatics Complex on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
CHRISTENSEN WINS
University of Redlands junior Savanah Christenson got a little bit bigger in Texas.
The 5-foot Christenson (Upland High) shot a final-round two-over 73 on Tuesday to win her first NCAA collegiate event at the Carla Spenkoch Invitational at The Quarry Golf Course in San Antonio, Tex.
A transfer from Chaffey College, Christenson rattled off four birdies and five pars on the back nine to finish the competition with a 145 (72-73) as Redlands placed fifth overall.
ODDS & ENDS
Sophomore Aaron Parayno shot a final-round 4-under-par 68 to finish tied for second overall and lead the Cal State San Bernardino men’s golf team to a fifth-place overall finish on Tuesday at the NCAA National Preview at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. … Recent Cal Poly Pomona alum Paige Moore won the 41st 2XU Long Beach Marathon in 2 hours, 55 minutes, 13 seconds, finishing more than 1 minute ahead of the field. … Claremont-Mudd-Scripps senior Advik Mareedu won his fourth consecutive ITA West Region single title with a 7-6, 6-4 win over Pomona-Pitzer’s Drew Goldman on Sunday at Pauley Tennis Complex. … Haylee Chilton (Paloma Valley High) and Alondra Pozos (Lakeside High) scored second-half goals as the Mt. San Jacinto women’s soccer team defeated Chaffey 2-0 in an Inland Empire Athletic Conference match on Monday, Oct. 7.
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