Confident UC Irvine Plays Host to Penn Tonight

UC Irvine’s basketball team was blown away by third-ranked Iowa, 124-88, its last time out but somehow managed to gain confidence from the experience going into its game against Pennsylvania at 7:30 tonight in the Bren Center.

For instance, the Anteaters’ top four scorers--Wayne Engelstad, Kevin Floyd, Ed Johansen and Justin Anderson--shot 68% and scored 61 points against a talented defense.

“I’m happy with the team right now,” Coach Bill Mulligan said.

The Anteaters (3-2) will play host to New Orleans after Penn, then will meet UCLA and Bradley on the road.

Penn (1-2) may be the easiest mark. The Quakers won the Ivy League title last season and lost in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament to North Carolina, but have lost four starters from that team. Senior swingman Tyrone Pitts, who leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 19.3-point and 7-rebound averages, also plays a key leadership role on an inexperienced squad that includes eight freshmen and a transfer.