‘Eaters pull away from Pacific

On a night when it was combing its roster for contributions, UC Irvine’s import from Greece smoothed things over when the Anteaters needed it most.

Ioannis Dimakopoulos, a 7-foot-2 senior, scored a career-high 20 points to lead UCI to a 72-65 nonconference men’s basketball victory over Pacific on Saturday at the Bren Events Center.

Dimakopoulos scored 14 after halftime, with 10 of those coming after the Tigers knotted it at 50-50 with 8:47 left.

Dimakopoulos, whose previous career-best was 16 points in the fourth game of his freshman season against Pacifica, then sank back-to-back inside buckets to spark a 10-3 run that put the ‘Eaters (2-2) ahead for good.

UOP (1-2), guided by first-year coach and former NBA guard Damon Stoudamire, closed to within 60-57 with 3:18 remaining.

But Dimakopoulos, who made nine of 13 field-goal tries, netted his only three-point attempt to double the lead with 2:56 left.

UCI capitalized on its size advantage inside, peppering the ball into the paint, where it produced a 40-14 scoring windfall.

Dimakopoulos used an assortment of a sky hook, jump hooks, turnaround jumpers and leaning bank shots inside, often backing in on smaller defenders.

“When Ioannis is aggressive at the rim and uses his size, I think he can be a dominant post player,” UCI Coach Russell Turner said. “I thought he made good buckets. He put good pressure on their defense, and when they came down and dug on him, he threw it out and we made threes. Offensively, he was really good.”

For the second straight game, Dimakopoulos netted just one rebound. But he had two blocks, two assists, and plenty of unorthodox help from his starting guards Jaron Martin and Max Hazzard.

Martin, who was one for six from the field and missed all three of his three-point attempts, led the winners with eight rebounds. He also chipped in a game-high six assists, despite battling a stinger that sidelined him for some of the second half.

Hazzard had six rebounds, three assists and one steal while matching Martin with nine points.

It was also a big night for freshman forward Tommy Rutherford and sophomore guard Spencer Rivers, who had 11 and eight points, respectively, both career highs.

Rivers, the son of Los Angeles Clippers Coach Doc Rivers, had never scored more than three points and has been relegated almost exclusively to mop-up duty. But he sank a three-pointer to beat the halftime buzzer and give UCI a 34-32 edge, on his way to a career-best eight points. He was three for four from the field and two for two from threedom.

“Spencer was ready when his time came,” Turner said. “That kid has confidence.”

Turner was also impressed with Rutherford, one of four Anteaters with two blocked shots.

UCI had nine blocks to help the Tigers (1-2) shoot 31.1% from the field.

UCI finished 27 for 53 from the field (50.9%) and constructed a 42-37 rebound advantage that helped it overcome a 12-7 disadvantage in turnovers.

“We’re figuring out an identity for this group,” said Turner, who was once again without senior All-Big West guard Luke Nelson (hamstring). “We have size and athleticism at different positions and fitting guys together is a fun challenge with this group.”

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Nonconference

UC Irvine 72, Pacific 65

UOP – Bowles 4, Vuko 0, Eleraky 0, Taylor 16, Wallace 8, Williams 17, Lampkin 14, Ursery 6.

3-pt. goals – William 4, Taylor 3.

Fouled out – Lampkin.

Technicals – None.

UCI – Smith 5, Galloway 4, Dimakopoulos 20, Martin 9, Hazzard 9, Rutherford 11, Rivers 8, Worku, 4, Greene 2.

3-pt. goals – Rivers 2, Hazzard 1, Smith 1, Dimakopoulos 1.

Fouled out – Greene, Galloway.

Technicals – None.

Halftime: 34-32, UCI.