UC Irvine to Face Beleaguered San Jose

UC Irvine has played its best games of the season against two of its toughest opponents--both in the Bren Center in front of a full house.

The Anteaters beat UCLA in late December, 91-90, and then 16th-ranked Nevada Las Vegas last Saturday night, 99-98.

Irvine has another home game at 7:30 tonight, but its opponent is not so highly regarded at the Bruins and Rebels.

The Anteaters will play host to San Jose State, which has nine straight losses--five since 10 scholarship players walked out last month, demanding the firing of Coach Bill Berry. The Anteaters (8-11 overall and 5-5 in the Big West) beat the Spartans at San Jose, 71-62, before the walkout.

The Spartans (5-15, 1-10) have a rag-tag collection of walk-ons, track and field athletes, and football and baseball players, who have played admirally. They lost to Cal State Long Beach, 58-54, Saturday night.

“There’s no pressure against Vegas because you’re not supposed to win,” Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan said. “But this San Jose game scares me. This is pressure. I know San Jose can beat us. I just hope our players know it.”