Strong Second Half Carries UC Irvine to 87-61 Victory

It was not an exhibition of deft shooting, but UC Irvine definitely was on the defensive Wednesday night in an 87-61 victory over Minas Tenis, a Brazilian club team.

Minas, a team that includes 11 Brazilians and a former Wisconsin player--James Lee Hodges III--stayed with the Anteaters for much of the first half. But Irvine’s defensive intensity and improved outside shooting in the second half turned a seven-point halftime advantage into a rout.

Minas shot 31% from the floor in the second half, 36% for the game.

“Once we got past the bumping and grinding style they play and got into what we do, I’d say I was happy with the effort,” Irvine Coach Rod Baker said. “In the second half, we started making shots and started making them miss shots.”

Irvine’s four returning starters all scored in double figures, led by last season’s freshman of the year Kevin Simmons and senior forward Michael Tate, who each had 15 points. All-Big West first-team point guard Raimonds Miglinieks scored 14 points, with six assists, and sophomore Brian Keefe, who was named team captain this week, added 13.

Hodges was the only Minas player with more than 11 points. He made eight of 15 shots to score a game-high 17 points.

The Anteaters made only one of 12 three-point attempts in the first half, but freshman Clay McKnight, from Mater Dei, and Miglinieks were a combined four of five from beyond the three-point arc in the second half.