Irvine Falls Behind Early, Loses to Utah State

UC Irvine dug itself a hole against Utah State in the Bren Center Thursday night, and it was one Irvine couldn’t climb out of.

The Anteaters fell behind by 14 in the first half, and though they cut the lead to one point with 4 1/2 minutes to left in the game, they never overtook the Aggies in losing, 70-65, in a Big West Conference game.

Irvine (2-7, 0-2) was without its leading scorer, Jeff Von Lutzow, in the second half. Von Lutzow stayed on the bench with a foot injury after playing 13 minutes in the first half, missing five of six shots. He finished with two points.

Lloyd Mumford led Irvine with 20 points, and Keith Stewart added 17.

Irvine held Utah State’s leading scorers, Jay Goodman and Rod Hay, in check, but Trent Rose scored 18 and Nathan Wickizer scored 15 before fouling out with 2:21 left.

After trailing at halftime, 40-31, Irvine got the lead down to two with the help of a technical foul against Goodman.

Goodman, shortly after being victimized by Mumford for a backcourt steal and layup, was whistled for a technical during a deadball after some particularly fierce defense by Mumford. Stewart made both free throws, and then Irvine cut the lead to 49-47 when Dee Boyer dunked off a pass by Mumford on the possession awarded after the technical.

Utah State (5-4, 2-0) was ahead 66-59 when Rose knocked down a three after Elzie Love, the Irvine defender, fell down with 1:47 left. Stewart and Mumford then both missed three-pointers.