Green Leads UC Irvine to 69-46 Victory

UC Irvine’s Jerry Green, the Big West Conference’s freshman of the year last season, scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, pushing the Anteaters to a 69-46 victory over Southwest Texas in the first round of the Sooner Holiday Classic in Norman, Okla.

Green didn’t even take a shot for the first 17 minutes, then scored four points in a 10-2 run that gave Irvine (1-1) a 30-22 halftime lead. He made three consecutive baskets to start the second half.

Green made eight of 12 shots. He also had seven assists and seven rebounds. Irvine shot 56% in the second half and 50% for the game. Southwest Texas (1-1) shot 29%.

Center J.R. Christ added 18 points for Irvine.