Butler Helps Solve UCI’s Problems in Victory Over Aztecs

UC Irvine’s basketball team, trying to solve the mystery of its worst start in school history, found part of the answer Saturday night.

And it was the Butler who did it.

Ricky Butler scored 18 of his career-high 28 points in the first half and Justin Anderson added 15 of his 17 in the second half as the Anteaters beat San Diego State, 75-62, before a crowd of 2,130 at the Bren Center.

The Anteaters (2-5) broke a three-game losing streak and ended a five-game winning string by the Aztecs (5-3).

The victory was a relief for the Anteaters, who have struggled without their top two point guards, Ben Rishwain and Rod Palmer. Rishwain is out with a broken finger and Palmer has an injured right knee.

So it was Butler, a 6-7 junior, who was the center of attention Saturday night. Butler, averaging 13.5 points a game, scored eight points in the final 6:26 as the Anteaters led by as many as 13 points.

“I was really disappointed because I hadn’t played well in the last two games (against Cal and Colorado),” Butler said. “I thought it was the worst I had played.”

Butler, who also had a game-high 12 rebounds, said it was a lack of conditioning that hurt him in the games. He said he grew tired and faded in the late stages of the losses.

“I was losing (power) in my legs,” he said. “I started riding a stationary bike again this week and I got some of it back.”

Aztec Coach Jim Brandenburg said Butler had the Aztecs chasing him the entire game.

“Butler played really well,” Brandenburg said. “We had no answer for him.”

Butler scored 18 points, including 12 on layups and short jump shots, to keep the Anteaters close in a first half in which the lead changed hands 15 times.

A free throw by freshman Craig Marshall gave the Anteaters their last lead of the half, 29-28, with 2:22 left.

Then San Diego State’s Michael Best made two three-pointers, sparking a 9-4 run that gave the Aztecs a 37-33 halftime advantage.

It was Anderson who got hot from the outside in the second half. He made three three-pointers and a layup to help the Anteaters pull to a 48-48 tie with 12:05 left.

Then the Anteaters’ Don May, a sophomore reserve, took over. He had a three-point play and layup and Craig Marshall added two free throws as the Anteaters went on a 7-0 run.

“We had a few rules tonight,” said UC Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan. “Only a couple of guys (Anderson and Jeff Herdman) could shoot the jumper.”

But Butler’s play inside was the difference down the stretch. He blocked a jumper by Best with 3:09 left and the Anteaters were clinging to a 66-59 lead. Best had hit two three-pointers in the previous two minutes to cut the Aztecs’ deficit from 13 to seven.

“Coach had been telling us that (Best) was their best outside shooter so we started jumping out at him,” Butler said. “I just jumped out and got a piece of the ball.”

Best and Shawn Jamison scored 14 points each for San Diego State, which committed 19 turnovers and was outrebounded 42-31. The Aztecs made only 11 of 20 free throws while UC Irvine made 28 of 36.

“We lost our poise a couple of times,” Brandenburg said. “We didn’t do much in the second half.”

Nor did Herdman, UC Irvine’s leading scorer (16.5 points). He had 10 points before fouling out with 5:13 left.

“We did a good job,” Mulligan said. “Herdman didn’t have a good night and we still won. We came out and played hard in the second half.”

Mulligan said the victory might turn the Anteaters’ fortunes around.

“If we would have lost I would have made them watch tapes of the game from 10:30 (p.m.) until 2 (a.m.),” Mulligan said. “I reminded them of that at halftime.”

Butler got the message and Mulligan and the Anteaters slept well Saturday night.

Anteater Notes

Ben Rishwain, a freshman point guard who has been sidelined since Dec. 2 with a broken finger, is expected to be out until January. . . . The Anteaters are 2-3 at home. . . . The Anteaters play at Pepperdine Tuesday night at 7:30.