UC Irvine’s Bubble Is Burst at New Mexico State, 90-60

UC Irvine hoped to carry over the emotion and momentum from Saturday’s runaway victory over Nevada into Thursday night’s game against New Mexico State. Sure, the Aggies hadn’t lost at home in almost two years, but the pumped-up Anteaters figured they could make it interesting.

But, the only suspense in this one was whether crowd favorite walk-on Mike Schutz would play.

New Mexico State (18-3, 10-2) led by 28 in the opening minutes of the second half and rolled to a 90-60 Big West Conference victory over the deflated Anteaters (6-15, 3-10) before 6,749 in the Pan American Center.

With eight minutes remaining, the crowd began to chant, “Shoootz, Shoootz,” and with 3:20 left Aggie Coach Neil McCarthy walked down the bench, pointed at the sophomore from Wagon Mound, N.M., as if to say, ‘You want him?’ and the fans went into a frenzy.

Schutz came in and hit a three-pointer, getting fouled on the play. He made the free throw to equal his previous total point output of the season. It was that kind of night for the Aggies. They shot 51% from the floor and 50% from three-point range and caused Irvine to commit 21 turnovers.

Forwards D.J. Jackson and James Dockery combined to make 13 of 22 shots from the floor and scored 34 points for New Mexico State.

Reserve Khalid Channell was the only Anteater in double figures with 16 points.