UC Irvine Loses to Virginia in Overtime, 99-89

Only 3 of the last 71 nonconference opponents who have come into Virginia’s University Hall have come away with a victory. UC Irvine wasn’t No. 4, but the Anteaters certainly came close before losing in overtime, 99-89, Wednesday night in front of 8,264.

For Irvine (2-7), an overtime loss to an Atlantic Coast Conference team was almost as good as a win. For the 7-1 Cavaliers, who have yet to play a game on the road, it was just slightly better than a defeat.

“We’re encouraged by this game,” Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan said. “We’ve been on the road 8 nights. We’re tired. But I’m really happy with the way we played.”

Virginia Coach Terry Holland said he also was “pleased” to win, but then went on to detail how his players “lost their continuity,” and “didn’t play very smart in the last two minutes (of regulation)” and “missed a lot of free throws.”

Irvine trailed, 85-78, with 2:29 remaining in regulation, but Virginia’s Brent Dabbs and Anthony Oliver both missed the front ends of 1-and-1 situations down the stretch. The Anteaters, meanwhile, scored on 2 free throws and a layup by Kevin Floyd to close the gap to 85-82 with 41 seconds left.

With less than 10 seconds remaining, Irvine’s Mike Labat got the ball at the top of the key, lost control, picked it up and started a staggering drive toward the basket. Somehow, he managed to flip a backhand pass to Rod Palmer, who was deep in the corner. Palmer, with John Crotty almost in his jersey, swished in a 22-footer with 3 seconds left that sent the game into overtime and the Irvine bench into a state of hysteria.

“I knew Mike saw me before he started to drive,” Palmer said, “but I didn’t think he’d be able to get the ball to me.”

Mulligan: “I thought they’d just let Labat go to the hoop, or foul him, but all that stuff happens pretty fast. It’s just too bad that shot didn’t win the game because we didn’t have much left for overtime.”

With Floyd, who had fouled out with 27 seconds left, and center Ricky Butler, who fouled out with 8:07 remaining, on the bench, the spent Anteaters were no match for Virginia in overtime.

“We were obviously much fresher in overtime,” Holland said. “I think Palmer especially was tired.”

The Anteaters were left to ponder what might have been, especially if Palmer had made a shot in the first half. He was 0 for 8 from the field in the first half, but came back to lead Irvine with 21 points, hitting 5 of 11 second-half 3-pointers. Floyd added 20 points.

Guards Richard Morgan, who had career highs in points (27) and rebounds (10) and Crotty, who tied his career highs with 20 points and 6 rebounds, paced the Cavaliers.

Irvine, which has made a habit of digging itself a deep hole in the opening minutes of almost every game this season, did so again. The Anteaters made just 2 of their first 12 field-goal attempts and fell behind, 11-3. But Irvine outscored the Cavaliers, 15-2, in a 6-minute stretch midway through the first half and trailed only 40-38 at intermission.

Virgina had a 23-22 rebounding advantage at the half, but Butler picked up his fourth foul with 16:38 remaining. With the 6-foot 7-inch sophomore on the bench most of the second half, the Cavaliers finished with a 57-38 rebounding margin.