Irvine Wins a Rough One From UOP for 69-64 Win

UC Irvine defeated the University of Pacific, 69-64, Saturday night in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game at Irvine that included 43 fouls, including one technical, 34 turnovers and a near bench-clearing brawl.

“Overall, this may have been the most physical game I’ve ever been in,” said Anteater forward Tod Murphy, sporting a bump on the side of his face. “There’s only one way to describe a game like this physical . . . and sloppy.” In all, only 16 fouls were called in the first half, with the officials letting the action go. And go it did. For example, Irvine guard Jerome Lee was decked straight on his back when he tried to make a cut through the middle, Pacific’s Domingo Rosario had his head pounded more than once, even one of the ball boys almost got nicked by a falling Murphy. “Don King would have been proud of this one,” Murphy said. Irvine’s Johnny Rodgers led all scorers with 21 points. Murphy was the only other Anteater to score in double figures with 13 points. The Anteaters, who haven’t shot well all season, shot only 43% from the field Saturday night. Rosario led the Tigers, now 4-8 overall and 0-3 in the PCAA, with 17 points. Pacific’s Andy Franklin added 16. UCI improved its to 6-8 overall and 2-2 in the PCAA. Attendance at the game in Crawford Hall was 1,004.