ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jerry Green

Men’s Basketball

Green had 24 points and 10 rebounds Saturday to lead Irvine to a 68-54 victory over Northern Arizona, the Anteaters’ first victory over a Division I opponent this season.

It was the best performance of the season by Green, a 6-foot-3 freshman point guard. He made eight of 15 shots, including five of seven in the first half when Irvine was building a 39-27 lead. Green is averaging 13 points to lead the Anteaters; he averaged 30 points at Pomona High School last season.

THIS WEEK

Men’s basketball: The Anteaters beat Northern Arizona, the defending Big Sky Conference champions, and will jump light years in class when they play eighth-ranked Arizona Monday in Tucson. “We know the odds are great going against a powerful Arizona team,” Coach Pat Douglass said. “We can’t waste any time. This game will help us down the line, when we’re playing on the road in conference. This is an opportunity to get better.” That certainly includes Irvine’s three centers, who combined for five points and seven rebounds against Northern Arizona. Stan Divranos had five fouls in four minutes.

Women’s basketball: Stephen F. Austin, with its up-tempo style, plays the Anteaters at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Bren Center. The Lumberjacks are led by Anitra Davis, who averages 19 points, and Shawnta Johnson, who averages 18. “We’re going to have to slow ‘er down and play some zone,” UCI Coach Mark Adams said. “We need to keep them in the 50s or 60s.” Defense hasn’t been a problem thus far. Offense has. Irvine has scored more than 57 points only once in four games. “Chelsea Mackey and Kirsten Cappel have to be more consistent,” Adams said. “We need better balance. Our rebounding has to get better.”