Long-Range Accuracy Makes UC Irvine a Big Winner

UC Irvine’s Dylan Rigdon calls it “a numbness, like a dream.”

Not for Fresno State Coach Gary Colson.

“My worst nightmare, seeing them bomb away for threes and make them like they did,” Colson said after watching Irvine blow out Fresno State, 105-82, by making 15 of 28 three-point shots Wednesday night before 2,158 in the Bren Center.

Irvine (7-9, 2-2 in the Big West) was on the other end of the score Monday night, when Pacific beat the Anteaters by 21 points.

But by Wednesday night, Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan had reversed field, scrapping the gambling full-court press.

The Anteaters discovered a defense and unleashed the shooters.

Herdman scored eight points in the first 88 seconds, including two first-pass three-pointers, and had 23 points by halftime.

He finished with 24 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Center Ricky Butler added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

But the leading scorer was Rigdon, who made seven of 12 three-pointers and scored a career-high 31 points, 22 of them in the second half.

It was one of those nights shooters live for.

“You’re focused, not worried about what to do,” Rigdon said. “Every time you get it, you know. You’re in a rhythm. I got into one in the second half, Jeff was in one in the first half.”

Wilbert Hooker scored 26 points for Fresno State, which dropped to 6-6 and 1-2.

For Irvine, it was an abrupt and welcome turnaround after Monday’s loss.

“It’s very hard to describe,” Mulligan said. “It’s like day and night, like Alaska and Palm Beach.”