It’s Like Old Times for Anteaters in Defeat by Nevada

UC Irvine must have left the fairy dust at the hotel. The magic that made the Anteaters the toast of the Big West tournament again this year was definitely missing Saturday night.

They misfired, sputtered and just plain came up empty against Nevada, losing, 88-69, in the semifinals in front of 4,450 in the Thomas & Mack Center.

It was as if Irvine, which came into the game with a 5-1 record in March under Coach Rod Baker, was back in the regular season.

Irvine’s best players--freshman of the year Kevin Simmons and point guard Raimonds Miglinieks--had off nights, which doomed the Anteaters’ chances of a second consecutive appearance in the tournament championship game.

How bad was it? Baker couldn’t even get a technical foul, despite a screaming, arm-waving, foot-stomping tantrum less than a yard from official Mike Scyphers late in the first half. Baker finally got his wish early in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to inspire the Anteaters (13-16) to overcome what had already become a 20-point Nevada lead.

Nevada (18-10) went on a 20-4 run midway through the first half to take a 30-16 lead and Irvine never recovered. It was the Wolf Pack’s third relatively easy victory over the Anteaters this season, and it might lead the nation in scoring if it could play Irvine every night. Nevada is averaging 93 points a game against Irvine.

The Anteaters, on a four-game winning streak, hadn’t won five games in a row in 11 years, and it was apparent by halftime that the streak would continue. Nevada led, 41-25.

The Wolf Pack outrebounded Irvine, 51-37, and shot 49%, compared to the Anteaters’ 35%.

Chris Brown, who made 24 three-pointers during Irvine’s run to the tournament final last year and was co-most valuable player of the tournament, moved off his normal spot on the end of the bench midway through the second half. Brown, the nation’s leading three-point shooter last season, hadn’t played a minute in the last three games. He made five three-point baskets on Saturday, but the Anteaters were more in need of fours or fives.

Miglinieks had 14 points and nine assists, but he also had seven turnovers. Simmons had eight points and five rebounds.

The Wolf Pack had six players score in double figures, led by guard Brian Green, who scored 17. Faron Hand had 15 points and Jimmy Moore had 11 points and 11 rebounds.