Irvine Stays Out of Cellar by Defeating San Jose State

UC Irvine’s basketball team showed its fear of that dark and scary place known as the Big West Conference basement Thursday night and raised its level of play.

Of course, the Anteaters didn’t have to raise it very far, defeating last-place San Jose State, 78-65, before 1,389 at the Bren Center.

Irvine’s victory broke a three-game losing streak and improved its chances of getting a Big West tournament berth. With conference-leader Nevada Las Vegas ineligible for postseason play, only one of the conference’s nine remaining teams will be denied a spot in the tournament.

Irvine (6-19, 3-13 in conference) has a 1 1/2-game lead over San Jose (2-21, 1-14) with two conference games remaining.

The Anteaters can clinch a spot in the tournament with victories over Pacific Saturday night and at New Mexico State March 7. San Jose plays at Cal State Fullerton Saturday night, and then plays host to Cal State Long Beach and UC Santa Barbara.

“We still have two big games to play,” Irvine Coach Rod Baker said. “But it looks good for us.

“We’re in better position now, but we’re supposed to be. But I thought we would be in better position the last time we played them (San Jose).”

That game, a 58-52 loss Feb. 1 at San Jose, was a nightmare for the Anteaters, who shot only 28% for the game and made four second-half field goals.

But Irvine shot a respectable 48.3% Thursday night and committed a season-low nine turnovers. The Anteaters led, 39-27, at halftime and never let San Jose closer than eight in the second half.

“We got ourselves better shots this time,” Baker said, “and we’re playing at home, so we should be shooting better here.”

Khari Johnson scored 17 points and David Hollaway, a transfer from San Jose State, came off the bench to add 14 for UC Irvine.

In the first meeting between the teams, Johnson, a sophomore from El Toro High, was scoreless in 17 minutes of playing time.

But he was particularly effective Thursday night in the final 4 minutes 20 seconds of the first half. San Jose had cut a 13-2 deficit to 21-19, but Johnson had two dunks and three free throws down the stretch to give the Anteaters a comfortable 12-point halftime cushion.

“Offensively, I felt great out there,” Johnson said. “But I had only two rebounds on defense.”

Johnson entered the game averaging only 4.5 points and shooting 48% from the free-throw line. But he was five of seven from the field and seven of seven from the free-throw line against San Jose.

“It was all a matter of Khari working at it with his free throws,” Baker said. “I wish I could say it has been some intense program where we worked on his shot, but it isn’t.”

Johnson’s play inside freed Hollaway to shoot from the outside.

Hollaway played nine games as a San Jose freshman before walking out with several other players after the 1988-89 season. He played one season for West Los Angeles College before joining Irvine last season.

“Hollaway was impressive with his shooting,” San Jose Coach Stan Morrison said. “He came back to haunt his old school.”

At halftime, Baker told Hollaway, who had five first-half points, to be more aggressive in the second half.

“We need David to be a scorer and a shooter,” Baker said. “We had a little talk at halftime, and I told him to do what he does best.”

The Anteaters played most of the game without second-leading scorer Jeff Von Lutzow, who picked up his third foul less than four minutes into the game. But Von Lutzow, who played only 17 minutes, came back to score 10 of his 12 points in the second half.

Jason Allen scored 16 points, including four three-pointers, to lead San Jose.