UCI to Play First Exhibition Under Baker

The UC Irvine men’s basketball team, preparing for its first season under Coach Rod Baker, will play an exhibition against the Lafayette Hustlers at 7:30 tonight in the Bren Center.

Lafayette, made up mostly of former college players, is based in Lafayette, Ind. The Hustlers defeated Pepperdine, 94-93, Friday.

Irvine was 11-19 last season, and Bill Mulligan, Irvine’s coach for 11 years, retired afterward. Gerald McDonald, Craig Marshall and Jeff Von Lutzow are the leading returners from a team that has lost its top three scorers.

In wake of Magic Johnson’s announcement, Irvine officials have decided to use the game to promote AIDS education. David Souleles, director of UCI’s sexual health program for students, said he was asked by Vice Chancellor Horace Mitchell to prepare AIDS education materials.

Souleles said Mitchell plans to make a speech about Magic Johnson and HIV infection “after the national anthem.” And “he wants (the AIDS exhibit) to be the prominent thing people will see when they walk into the Bren Events Center.”