Irvine Solid in Exhibition Despite Loss

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.