North Texas Outlasts UCI

Coach Vic Trilli, who had watched his North Texas team give up points as fast as it scored them Thursday, feigned a what-me-worry attitude after the Eagles beat UC Irvine, 89-78.

So what if the Anteaters dismantled leads as quickly as North Texas built them. This was a breeze--even before the Eagles scored the game’s last nine points in front of 1,308 in the Super Pit.

“We had this one all the way,” said Trilli, after his team nearly blew a 10-point lead in the last three minutes. “We led from start to finish. Compared to what we’ve come through, we were in control of this one.”

The Eagles did play what some consider the roughest nonconference schedule in the nation--traveling to Georgia Tech, Iowa, Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Alabama, among other college basketball hot spots. They had been beaten from the Big 10 to the Big 12. So opening Big West Conference play with Irvine was a snap. Sort of.

North Texas was sharp on the outside, making 16 of 33 three-pointers, and inside, with 18 offensive rebounds. Still, Irvine, which has lost 22 consecutive road games, refused to go gently.

After being buried by a barrage of three-pointers early, the Anteaters spent the night whittling down Eagle leads right up to the end. North Texas led, 80-70, with 2 minutes 45 seconds left, before Irvine turned four consecutive turnovers into an 8-0 run, ending with Junior Bond’s three-pointer to cut the Eagle lead to 80-78 with 55 seconds left.

As it had all night, North Texas (2-9, 1-0 in conference play) answered, scoring nine points in less than a minute.

“I was getting a little scared,” said guard Pooh Davis, who had a career-high 26 points. “But the schedule we had played made us ready. I knew we could come out with a victory.”

Not that there weren’t a few stressful moments.

Ben Jones turned Rodrick Peyton’s wrong jersey into five quick points on one run. Peyton was given a technical foul when he entered the game wearing a different number than was in the scorebook. Jones, who scored 18 points, made the two free throws and then a three-pointer and Irvine trailed, 61-58, with 7:28 left.

It was one of many times the Anteaters (3-8, 0-1) threatened.

“They wouldn’t attack our press,” Trilli said. “We ended up running around after them and getting worn down.”

The Anteaters did turn the ball over 26 times, but were also able to create shots off the Eagles’ press. Irvine made 13 of 26 three-pointers. Jones made four of six and Stetson and Jason Flowers (12 points) each made three.

Each time Irvine made a move, the Eagles countered. After Jones’ five-point play, North Texas went on a 12-2 run, ending with a three-pointer by Gabe Moeller, his first in 19 tries this season.

“Hey, I never felt any pressure at all,” Eagle forward David Miller said.

There was no reason early on, as the Eagles bolted to a 32-12 lead in the first 10 minutes.

“We’re always playing catch-up,” said UCI forward Adam Stetson, who scored 18 points. “Instead of getting out in front, we’re chasing people.”

Irvine turned the ball over 10 times in the first 10 minutes. The Anteaters also stood and watched as the Eagles made seven of their first 12 three-pointers. It was a pattern that repeated itself.

Davis made six of eight three-pointers, mainly by sitting outside while teammates drove to the basket and kicked the ball out. Seven other Eagles had at least one three-pointer. This could not have come as a surprise to Irvine, as the Eagles had attempted 316 heading into the game.

“We showed them tape, so our players knew what was coming,” Irvine Coach Pat Douglass said. “We have a young team. You have to have baby steps before you can walk.”

Chuck Thrash controlled the inside, with nine offensive rebounds. He finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds, both career highs.