UCI May Lose 2 Players

Guard Brett Pagett reportedly has left the UC Irvine basketball team to enroll at Rancho Santiago College, where his father, Dana, is the coach.

Coach Bill Mulligan said, “It’s up to him.” Pagett, a sophomore from Los Alamitos High School, averaged 0.4 points a game last season, but has been sidelined by a foot injury.

Mike Labat, a senior swingman, also might leave the team, Mulligan said. A reserve, Labat had the flu over Christmas vacation and did not practice with the team. He has lost 20 pounds, according to Mulligan. Labat and Mulligan will meet Wednesday to discuss the player’s future.