UC Irvine Hits Rock Bottom in 75-69 Loss

Coach Bill Mulligan stood, hands on hips, in front of the UC Irvine bench trying to make sense of what was happening on the Bren Center court Thursday night.

Ten minutes after watching San Jose State pull away for its first Big West Conference victory in 18 games, Mulligan still couldn’t believe it.

Irvine hit rock bottom with a 75-69 loss to San Jose before 2,017.

Indeed, this was a new low in a season chock full of lows.

“Right now we’re the weakest team in the league, no question about it,” Mulligan said. “We gotta make some adjustments. It’s the same old story.”

It was an ugly story again Thursday.

The Anteaters shot a season-low 36.9% from the field, 53.8% from the free-throw line and had 20 turnovers, which figured prominently in their fourth consecutive loss.

Irvine fell to 2-9 overall, 0-2 in the Big West. San Jose is 4-7, 1-1.

“My stomach is going crazy,” Mulligan said. “I know I look real cool. I don’t understand the shooting. We free-lanced a little too much.”

San Jose didn’t exactly bring the sport to new heights either.

The Spartans shot 46% from the field and blew an eight-point lead late in the game before getting the victory.

“That was beautiful,” San Jose Coach Stan Morrison said, tongue planted firmly in cheek. “That was one of the most artistic things I’ve ever seen.”

Then, taking a more serious tone, he added, “I’m glad we won. The kids deserve to have something to keep their heads up.”

Andre Brooks had a game-high 22 points to lead Morrison’s rebuilding project.

Morrison, who coached USC from 1980-86, had to start from scratch when he took the San Jose job last April. A player boycott midway through last season to protest then-coach Bill Berry had left the Spartans’ ranks depleted.

He had just three players left from last season’s 5-23 team and had to bring in 15 newcomers.

Brooks, one of the new faces, had 11 of his 22 in the first seven minutes of the second half to push San Jose into the lead, 48-44.

The lead had changed hands until then. Irvine led, 34-33, at halftime, only the third time this season they had the lead after 20 minutes.

Irvine made one late run at San Jose, erasing an eight-point lead but couldn’t pull ahead after tying the score, 59-59, with 4:17 left.

The Anteaters suddenly went cold, failing to score for the next 3:09. Craig Marshall’s free throw finally broke the streak, but Irvine trailed, 67-60.

San Jose guard Tom Desiano kept Irvine behind by making six free throws in the final 1:05. Desiano, who played at Mission Viejo High School, had 12 points and seven assists.

Center Ricky Butler led Irvine with 17 points. Forwards Justin Anderson and Jeff Herdman each had 12.

“I think we’re headed for the cellar this year,” Butler said. “Everyone’s looking at us as a win.”

It’s not difficult to see why.

The Anteaters shot less than 40% for the third consecutive game, were three above their turnover average and generally made a mess of things when they had a chance to overtake San Jose late.

Dwain Daniels made two free throws to give San Jose the lead, 61-59. Desiano added two more, then swiped the ball from Herdman and drove in for a layup and a 65-59 lead with 2:31 left.

Troy Batiste added two more free throws with 1:23 left and the Spartans held a secure, 67-59, lead.

“I don’t know what it is,” Butler said. “We can’t put it in the hole. It’s like, ‘Wow, we’re down again.’ We play good for a while, then play bad and the guys get down.”

So now Irvine travels to Fresno State on Sunday, where the Anteaters ended an 0 for 12 losing streak at Selland Arena with an 82-79 victory last season.

“Hopefully, we’ll get a win on the road,” Butler said. “It’s not going to be too good at Fresno.”

Indeed, the schedule only gets more difficult for Irvine.

“Don’t you think I know that,” Mulligan said softly when reminded. “I know that.”

Anteater Notes

How big of a victory was it for San Jose State? Not only did it break a 17-game conference losing streak, it also broke a two-year conference losing streak. The victory also was the first for the Spartans at Irvine since a 73-59 victory over the Anteaters in Crawford Hall in 1983. . . . Irvine’s woes continue at home. The loss was the Anteaters’ 10th in the past 12 games dating back to last season.