UCI’s Keefe Leads Exhibition Victory

With senior Chris Brown, the nation’s top three-point shooter last season, suspended for missing team study sessions, freshman Brian Keefe made a bid for playing time Friday night during UC Irvine’s 93-85 exhibition victory over Five Star Sports.

The 1,517 on hand in the Bren Center established Keefe--who did his best Brown imitation by making three of five three-pointers and scoring 20 points--and freshman Kevin Simmons, who scored 18 points and had seven rebounds, as the new crowd favorites.

“Both of those guys had been battle tested (in AAU competition) this summer,” Coach Rod Baker said, “and it showed. They both can play. They made some freshman mistakes, but it wasn’t like they didn’t belong.”

Five Star Sports, a collection of former college players, stayed close to the Anteaters in the early going and trailed by just one, 22-21, when Dwayne Russilford, formerly of Northern Colorado, hit a three-pointer with eight minutes left in the first half.

But the Anteaters began to break down Five Star Sports’ press and led by 20 midway through the second half before Baker began to substitute freely.

“This wasn’t a traditional game,” Baker said. “They were trapping, running at us and crashing the boards. They forced us to make the plays and, for the most part, we did. We got a lot of good shots because we were able to make the passes.”

Forward Mark Odsather made six of 13 shots from the field--including four of eight three-pointers--to score 20 points for Irvine. Point guard Raimonds Miglinieks, a transfer from Riverside College, had eight points and seven assists.

Anteater Notes

Point guard Zuri Williams pulled a groin muscle during warmups and played sparingly in the first half, but was unable to continue after the intermission. “I hope it’s not too bad,” he said, “but right now it really hurts.”