Irvine Takes Step Back at New Mexico St.

The losses piled up this season, but UC Irvine always took comfort in the little steps of progress during Rod Baker’s first season as coach. The idea all along, Baker said, has been to build for the Big West Conference tournament.

But on Saturday night--against a team that they had lost to by four points in January--the Anteaters fell behind by 19 at halftime and lost to New Mexico State, 99-71, before 9,231 in the Pan American Center.

“We got whooped pretty good,” Baker said. “This is not a game you want to play, at Las Cruces before the tournament. This is not exactly a springboard to the tournament.”

Irvine finished the regular season at 6-21, 3-15 in the Big West. Only the 1989-90 team that went 5-23 won fewer games.

The Anteaters were handed the final spot in the eight-team Big West tournament Thursday when San Jose State eliminated itself with a loss.

“I would think when you’re 6-21 you still have something to play for,” Baker said. “If it’s flipped around and you’re 21-6 and your seeding is already decided, you might not have anything to play for.”

New Mexico State (20-7, 12-6) can still earn the No. 1 seeding in the tournament if Pacific upsets UC Santa Barbara today.

The Aggies shot 58% against Irvine, outrebounded the Anteaters, 42-20, and finished with the most points anyone has scored against Irvine this season.

Eric Traylor led the Aggies with 15 points.