Irvine Streak Hits Record 12 in a Row

UC Irvine’s losing streak reached a school-record 12 in a row Thursday night. Fresno State was the latest team to defeat the Anteaters, 78-75, before 1,440 in the Bren Center.

Fresno State did not have the game won until Irvine’s Justin Anderson missed a three-point shot at the buzzer.

The Bulldogs (8-10 overall, 3-6 in Big West Conference) blew a 16-point first-half lead, then almost let a seven-point lead slip away in the in the final 3:19.

Irvine could have won for the first time since Dec. 16 against San Diego State, but Elgin Rogers missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity with Irvine down, 76-75, and 15 seconds left.

“Rogers has a one-and-one and I say to myself, ‘We’re going to win a game--on free throws,’ ” Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan said.

After Rogers’ miss, Fresno grabbed the rebound and called time out. Irvine tried to foul when play resumed, but the Bulldogs’ passed the ball around before the Anteaters could get there.

Finally, Don May grabbed Wilbert Hooker, the conference’s leading free-throw shooter at 84%. Hooker’s two free throws gave Fresno a 78-75 lead.

Hooker led the Bulldogs with 24 points, making 13 of 15 free throws. Tod Bernard and Dave Barnett each added 17 for the Bulldogs.

Dylan Rigdon, one of three freshmen Mulligan started, had a career-high 20 points for Irvine (2-17, 0-10).

“I’ve been winning for so long, and not just here. I guess it evens up,” said Mulligan. Irvine’s streak broke the previous record set in January-February, 1980.