Irvine Puzzled by Loss

Forward Adam Stetson shook his head, mustered up his best Texas drawl, and still couldn’t find the reason for UC Irvine’s woes Sunday.

They results were plain enough. The Anteaters were buried, 71-57, by James Madison in front of 1,006 in the Bren Center. They were out-rebounded, out-shot and out-hustled.

But why it happened left the Irvine players a bit puzzled.

“I plead the fifth,” Stetson said. “I don’t know what happened. I wish I did. We knew James Madison was a get-it-and-go team. We fell into their game.”

What made it more bewildering for the Anteaters was the 18-point swing that went against them. They were leading, 27-22, with five minutes left in the first half. When they finally caught their breath, the Dukes led, 43-30, with 15 minutes left.

This was not the follow-up Irvine had wanted after its last two games, a victory over Northern Arizona and a respectable showing against eighth-ranked Arizona. Nor was it the way the Anteaters wanted to roll into Tuesday night’s game against Brigham Young.

James Madison (6-3) had a 52-27 rebounding edge--17-8 in offensive rebounds. Irvine (2-5) shot 35% from the field, making only one of 17 shots during James Madison’s 21-3 run that turned the game around.

“A lot of people might say we’re young, but that’s no excuse for that kind of groove,” said freshman guard Zamiro Bennemm, who had a season-high 16 points. “Maybe three games ago that was a reason. Not now. Not at home.”

James Madison’s Jabari Outtz and Eugene Atkinson led a 13-0 run that closed the first half, with Outtz sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 35-27 lead. Chatney Howard scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the second half.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.