UCI Starts Strong, Holds Off Huskies

Sean Jackson made a three-pointer with 1:02 remaining to put UC Irvine ahead, and the Anteaters held on for a 56-55 victory Thursday against Washington.

Washington failed to convert on either of two chances to win in the final seconds. Bryan Brown made only one of three free-throw attempts with 2.4 seconds remaining, then Will Perkins rebounded Brown’s final miss, but his desperation shot was off the mark.

Malachi Edmond scored 14 points and Ben Jones 10 for UC Irvine (7-2).

“We had some kids step up defensively and make some key steals,” Irvine Coach Pat Douglass said. UCI was credited with 11 steals.

Perkins scored 17 points while Marlon Shelton had 13 rebounds and scored 11 points for Washington (6-5).

The Anteaters are off to their best start since opening the 1981-82 season with a 9-0 record.

After shooting 31.8 percent from the field in the first half and trailing by 12 points at the half, Washington found the range during a 15-2 run at the start of the second half.

Perkins scored eight points during the run and capped it with a 10-foot jumper that gave Washington a 35-34 lead with 14:17 remaining.

There were seven more lead changes, the final one occurring on Jackson’s three-pointer.

Brown was attempting a 30-foot three-pointer when he was fouled by Edmond with Irvine leading, 56-54, and 2.4 seconds remaining. Brown made the first free throw but missed the next two.

There were eight lead changes in the first half before UC Irvine took command with a 17-4 run late in the half. During the run, over a span of 10 minutes, Washington made only one of 13 shots from the field.

An Edmond steal and layup with one second left in the half gave Irvine a 32-20 halftime lead.