Irvine Makes It Two in a Row, 73-70

Like a toddler taking its first tentative steps, UC Irvine was alternately swaggering and staggering Saturday night, but the Anteaters clung to a 73-70 victory over the University of San Diego in front of 1,767 in the campus Sports Center gymnasium.

It was the first time in almost a year that the Anteaters (2-2) have won two in a row. And it’s a streak that might have been three had they been able to make a free throw in the final seconds of regulation last week against 14th-ranked Ohio University.

“We were in the exact same situation tonight as we were against Ohio and the difference was that this time we made one of the free throws,” Coach Rod Baker said.

Against the Bobcats, freshman Kevin Simmons missed the front end of a one-and-one situation and Irvine lost in overtime. Against San Diego, senior Mark Odsather made one of two free throws with seven seconds remaining and Zuri Williams blocked David Fizdale’s three-point attempt at the buzzer.

“That was a monster game for us,” Baker said. “It’s a win on the road against a good team. If we’re ever going to be any good, we have to win these.”

Irvine, which began the game shooting 63% from the line, made 14 of 18 free throws in the final 7:14.

The Anteaters seemed to have command of the game when Williams made one of two free throws to put the Anteaters ahead, 71-64, with 24 seconds remaining. But Doug Harris, who made four of six three-pointers and led the Toreros (3-2) with 23 points, made a three over Williams’ outstretched arm with 17 seconds left.

Khalid Channell, who had nine points and eight rebounds, made a free throw to give Irvine a 72-67 advantage with 15 seconds remaining, but Sean Flannery made a shot from about a yard beyond the three-point stripe to cut the Anteaters’ lead to two with seven seconds remaining.

“After I missed the first free throw, I was thinking, ‘Oh, no, another Ohio U.,’ ” Odsather said. “But I was determined to make them have to make one from 20 feet instead of two feet to get this one into overtime.”