Southwest Texas Learns Anteaters Are Still Green’s Team

In case anyone forgot that UC Irvine’s Jerry Green was the Big West Conference’s freshman of the year last season, he provided a little reminder Friday.

Not that he wants to remember such accolades.

“Being freshman of the year was something that happened last season,” said Green, after Irvine’s 69-46 victory over Southwest Texas in the Sooner Holiday Classic. “I’m a sophomore now, and I’m just trying to play better. I’m just trying to run this club.”

Run it. Push it. Pull it. Drag it. At least on Friday.

His performance got the Anteaters into today’s tournament championship game, where they will face host Oklahoma.

Irvine struggled throughout the first half before Green calmed them. He scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, when the Anteaters pulled away. Their 23-point victory was the largest over a Division I school since beating San Jose State, 79-49, on Feb. 16, 1995.

But Irvine has usually been on the other end of such routs the last four seasons. Tonight could be another one against the undefeated Sooners.

Still, this was not only a victory the Anteaters needed, it was one they expected.

“I think all of us would have felt disappointed if we came all this way and didn’t get to play Oklahoma,” said center J.R. Christ, who made seven of eight shots and scored 18 points. “This will be fun.”

The tournament hasn’t been a whole lot of laughs so far for Irvine.

Senior forward Adam Stetson underwent minor surgery for a partially collapsed lung on Thursday. He is expected to be released from the hospital Sunday and return home with the team.

Senior forward Marek Ondera gutted out 35 minutes with a bad back, getting 13 rebounds. But he looked less than comfortable and made only two of eight shots.

Their condition leaves Coach Pat Douglass with a decision, as he may be forced to suit up a redshirt freshman, with Matt Okoro being the odds-on favorite at the moment.

What he doesn’t have to fret about is Green, who put on a performance similar to ones from last season. Only better.

He didn’t 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. Green hit three consecutive baskets to start the second half.

Green made eight of 12 shots. He also had seven assists and seven rebounds.

“Jerry has really developed as a floor leader,” Douglass said. “He got us into our offense. He didn’t rush himself.”

No. He waited 17 minutes to get rolling.

“I’ve learned to let the game come to me,” Green said. “I did today and we won.”

Not that it wasn’t an effort.

Southwest Texas shot 29% for the game. Irvine finished with a 42-28 rebounding edge, which was a 26-16 margin at halftime.

Five of Southwest Texas’ rebounds came on one possession, and the Bobcats didn’t even get points out if it, missing seven shots.

Still, they hung around.

What offense Irvine got in the first half came mostly from Christ, but it came at key moments.

He scored six points in a 9-0 run that gave Irvine a 16-6 lead. He drove baseline and scored on a reverse layup that gave the Anteaters a 22-20 lead with 4 minutes 34 seconds left.