Aggies End Irvine Streak in a Hurry

UC Irvine’s four-game winning streak came to an end at about 7:45 Saturday night. It wasn’t official for another hour and a half, but it was as good as over when New Mexico State’s Rodney Walker wrenched the ball from Raimonds Miglinieks and took it for a layup that gave the Aggies a 35-14 lead with more than eight minutes left in the first half.

Irvine retired two-time All-American Kevin Magee’s number at halftime, but even if Magee had again donned No. 44 and played with the Anteaters in the second half, it wouldn’t have changed the outcome.

For the record, the final score was 102-77 and the 3,058 in the Bren Center had precious little to cheer about as the Aggies had it all their way, improving their record 16-5 overall and 7-3 in the Big West.

Irvine (8-10, 4-7) was never closer than 11 after the first eight minutes. The Aggies swarmed around Miglinieks, who finished with 15 points, 10 assists and nine turnovers. And they double-teamed freshman forward Kevin Simmons, who scored only three points.

Thomas Wyatt led the Aggies with 26 points, making five of nine three-pointers. Freshman Brian Keefe, who made seven of 10 from the floor, led Irvine with 19 points.

New Mexico State shot 56% and had 17 offensive rebounds.