Anteaters Are Cannon Fodder, 89-76

San Jose State guard Terry Cannon scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the final 3 1/2 minutes Saturday night as the Spartans held on for an 89-76 Big West victory over UC Irvine in front of 2,789 at the Bren Center.

The loss was more than Irvine Coach Rod Baker could bear. The usually composed Baker entered the Anteaters’ locker room bellowing, and 20 minutes later he still had not emerged.

Irvine, which came home after a victory at Utah State on a high, hit new lows in home losses to Pacific and San Jose. The Anteaters (5-9, 2-4) are headed in the opposite direction of San Jose (8-7, 4-3), which picked up its third consecutive victory.

“When they brought it to six (76-70), we started to execute with the clock and with high-percentage shots,” Cannon said. “We benefited by using the clock and getting baskets.”

The Spartans, like so many of Irvine’s opponents this season, also benefited from the Anteaters’ poor perimeter defense. Nevada Las Vegas shot 56% from three-point range and Rebel outside shooters accounted for 42 points on three-pointers. Reno’s Preston Johnson and Jerry Hogan combined to make nine of 15 three-pointers. And Saturday night, San Jose shot 58% on three-pointers, including five of seven in the first half.