UC Irvine Gets Something to Celebrate

Chico State, in the end, served its purpose.

UC Irvine, which didn’t have a victory until well after the holidays last season, had reason to celebrate early this season after a 74-66 victory Friday in front of 1,110 in the Bren Center.

OK, this was not 16th-ranked Utah, which Irvine plays next Saturday. Division II Chico State might have two Division I transfers, but Anthony Lambert (Cleveland State) and Andre Speech (San Diego) didn’t exactly get to pick from a wide range of offers.

Still, after waiting until Jan. 23 to get a victory last season, the Anteaters had a right to feel good.

“This is fabulous,” said forward Adam Stetson, who had a game-high 25 points. “We want people here to get used to us winning.”

With Utah coming up, that euphoria may only last a short time. Still, Friday’s victory snapped a 14-game losing streak, even if it wasn’t secured until the last five minutes.

Junior Bond made two free throws to give Irvine (1-2) a 63-62 lead with 5 minutes 11 seconds left. It began a 13-4 run. Stetson, who scored six during the stretch, hit a three-pointer for a 70-64 lead. Chico State (2-2) folded and first-year Irvine Coach Pat Douglass had Division I victory No. 1.

“I can’t judge what went on last year,” Douglass said. “It just always is nice to get a win.”

Douglass juggled his lineup Friday. Neither Lamarr Parker nor Bond, the Anteaters’ two point guards, started. In their place was walk-on Jason Flowers, who had not played since his senior year at Bellflower High School. Freshman Malachi Edmond started at the other guard in place of Brian Scoggin.

“I thought we handled the ball better tonight,” Douglass said. “We had not been taking very good care of the basketball.”

Irvine, which had 46 turnovers in its first two games, had 15 Friday. Chico State had forced 80 turnovers in its first three games.

Flowers didn’t score, but turned the ball over only once in 16 minutes. Edmond also had only one turnover, in 32 minutes.

The Anteaters got a bonus in Edmond’s 16 points, 13 in the first half. He had 11 points in the first nine minutes, including back-to-back three-pointers that gave the Anteaters a 21-16 lead. Irvine led at halftime, 37-33.

“You can’t be shy at this level,” said Edmond, who made five of 11 shots. “If you don’t take them, the opposition will.”

Stetson, who was six of 15 from the field, had much the same attitude.

Dan Curtis’ layup gave Chico State a 49-44 lead with 15:22 left, forcing an Irvine timeout. Stetson took a pass at the top of the key and drove for a twisting layup. He followed that with a steal that led to a Juma Jackson layup.

“I just did what anyone else would have done,” Stetson said. “You have to play aggressive.”

The Anteaters got that from Jackson and Bond as well. Jackson scored 14 points and had five steals. Bond scored all eight of his points in the last 10 minutes and also forced two key turnovers to help Irvine pull away.

Irvine forced 24 turnovers to offset Chico State’s 44-30 rebounding advantage.

But the only number that really mattered was in the victory column.

“What happened in the past is in the past,” Edmond said. “We’re here to build a tradition.”