Men’s Basketball: ‘Eaters conquer Hawaii
Visiting Hawaii gave UC Irvine a challenge for 25 minutes Thursday, before the Anteaters locked it down and lit it up to pull away for a 75-60 Big West Conference men’s basketball victory at the Bren Events Center.
UCI (15-10, 8-3 in conference) never led in the first half and never trailed in the second, as it relied on deadly three-point shooting and stingy defense to increase its cushion over third-place teams.
UCI, which is still two games behind first-place UC Davis, which won at Long Beach State on Thursday, is 1 1/2 games in front of the 49ers and two games better than UC Santa Barbara, which lost at UC Riverside on Thursday.
Beginning in the final minute of the first half, senior Travis Souza sank five straight three-point attempts, the last of which put the ‘Eaters up, 51-44, with 11:57 left. UCI made seven of 10 three-point tries after halftime.
After Hawaii answered with a basket, the Rainbow Warriors (18-10, 6-6) went nearly 10 minutes with only one field goal, including a drought of 7:47 before a dunk with 1:51 left cut into what was then a 17-point cushion.
Souza finished five for seven from threedom to account for all 15 of his points and senior Will Davis amassed 23 points and 14 rebounds for the winners. Davis, who came in leading the conference in field-goal percentage (.533), made nine of 15 attempts and collected 12 rebounds after halftime.
“Will was terrific,” UCI Coach Russell Turner said.
Davis and 7-foot-2sophomore Ioannis Dimakopoulos each blocked three shots to help the Anteaters record 10 blocks and alter many more shots.
Hawaii shot just 27.3% from the field in the second half and finished 20 for 65 for the game (30.8%).
Sophomore Luke Nelson had 13 points and eight assists and netted three three-pointers to help UCI shoot 55.6% from beyond the arc (10 for 18).
“It was a good win for us against a quality team that is hard to beat,” Turner said. “I’m pleased with the overall effort of our team. This is one we can all enjoy because tonight we did what we said we were going to do and we were able to come out and with just a dominating second half, and that was cool.”
Hawaii starters Garrett Nevels and Roderick Bobbitt were a combined one for 17 from the field and teammate Aaron Valdes made just four of 12 field-goal tries.
“We got good shots, which was why we shot such a good percentage,” Turner said of his perimeter offense. “But I thought the key to the game was that Will and Ioannis made some big plays when we needed to go inside.”
Dimakopoulos was four for six from the field to chip in eight points, while reserve guard Jaron Martin added nine points, five assists and two blocks.
UCI played without starters Mamadou Ndiaye, Alex Young and John Ryan, who are all three dealing with foot injuries.
Turner said Ndiaye, a 7-6 sophomore, should return no later than Thursday. He said Ryan and Young are both expected back before the conference tournament opens March 12.
UCI trailed by as many as seven, but finished on a 7-0 run to pull even, 29-29, at halftime.
Davis made four of six field-goal attempts and both of his free throws to produce 10 points to lead the ‘Eaters into intermission.
Hawaii, which opened the game by connecting on 10 of its first 25 field-goal tries, was just one for nine to close the half.
UCI plays host to Cal State Northridge on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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Big West Conference
UC Irvine 75, Hawaii 60
UH – Jankovic 18, Webster-Chan 16, Valdes 8, Nevels 5, Bobbitt 1, Jananovic 8, Smith 2, Thomas 2.
3-pt. goals – Webster-Chan 4, Jankovic 1, Nevels 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
UCI – Davis 23, Best 2, Souza 15, Nelson 13, Wright 2, Martin 9, Dimakopoulos 8, Saprykinas 3.
3-pt. goals – Souza 5, Nelson 3, Martin 1, Saprykinas 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
Halftime – 29-29.