UC Irvine Cuts Grizzlies to Size, 85-72

UC Irvine made its home debut at Crawford Hall Thursday night and, finally, Coach Bill Mulligan is convinced.

“We’re better than we were last year,” he said. “I think we’re close to where we were two years ago, and I keep saying that was the best team we’ve ever had.”

Mulligan’s favorable review came after he watched his team play the type of game he’s been waiting for. UC Irvine pressed Montana to pick up the pace, and the result was an 85-72 victory in front of 1,302 spectators.

With a small gathering of NBA scouts in attendance to check out Montana forward Larry Krystkowiak--projected by many observers as a first-round draft choice--the Anteaters used a full-court press to force the tempo and prevent the Grizzlies from turning it into a game of muscle inside.

Krystkowiak, 6-9 and 235, teams with center Larry McBride (6-10 and 245) to give Montana an impressive double low post.

“We had to press, otherwise the two big guys would have really gotten in the blocks,” Mulligan said. “Then, we would have had real problems.”

The press helped force turnovers and enabled UC Irvine (2-2) to get the tempo to its liking near the end of the first half. After Montana guard Scott Zanon hit his third three-point shot of the first half to give the Grizzles a 40-37 lead with 2:15 remaining, the Anteaters went on a 9-0 spurt to take a 46-40 halftime lead.

After 2 1/2 minutes of the second half, UC Irvine had extended that lead to 54-44 and was on its way to its first easy win of the season.

Anteater guards Scott Brooks, Joe Buchanan and Mike Hess combined to make 13 of 21 shots, accounting for 32 points. Senior forward Johnny Rogers, who entered the game shooting only 40%, hit 8 of 14 shots and finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Tod Murphy scored 22 points.

Krystkowiak finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and the respect of several UC Irvine players.

Rogers: “He’s, without a doubt, the best big man I’ve ever faced. He’s quick, strong and agressive.”

Murphy, checking for blood around his mouth: “He’s tough. My lips are evidence of that. He abused my face.”