Irvine Solid in Exhibition Despite Loss

IRVINE — Winning probably would have been too much to ask.

But Monday night, the Anteaters had the 906 fans at the Bren Center on their feet at the end in a 71-69 loss to Silute, a club team from Lithuania. Not until Juma Jackson missed a tip-in on an in-bounds play was the game decided.

Irvine led, 58-48, with 8 minutes 44 seconds left, but former Stanford standout Dion Cross (13 points) hit a nine-foot jumper with seven seconds left to give Silute the victory.

Still, it was drastic change from last year’s team. The Anteaters, who made 22% on three-point attempts last season, made 14 of 31 (45%) Monday. Freshman forward Ben Jones, who had 23 points, made six of 11 three pointers.