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Anteaters Find Victory at End of the Road

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

It isn’t often that UC Irvine dominates a game on the road. It isn’t often that the Anteaters even win a game on the road.

So Thursday was a special moment, and they knew it.

Irvine’s 90-67 Big West Conference victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in front of 2,364 in Mott Gymnasium was a change of pace for a team that has struggled.

OK, so it was San Luis Obispo’s 13th loss in the last 14 games, including one against Indiana-Purdue--not Indiana and Purdue, but Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis.

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That wasn’t the point. This was an Anteater team that had the look of a winner. Irvine outscored the Mustangs, 22-6, in the last 7 minutes 43 seconds.

“We had an exceptional second half,” Coach Pat Douglass said. “We have been improving. It is always difficult to come on the road and play well.”

Almost impossible in the Anteaters’ case. This was only their second victory in the last 21 road games.

“I don’t look at the road behind us,” said guard Malachi Edmond, who had 16 points, five assists and five steals. “I look at the road ahead.”

That would be UC Santa Barbara Saturday night. Two consecutive road victories? If the Anteaters (10-10, 3-6) play to the same level, who knows?

A week ago, they were bottom-feeding with the Mustangs in the Big West’s Western Division. Today, they are tied for fourth--the last tournament spot--with Cal State Fullerton.

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“There was a point in the second half where we felt we had an opportunity to take this game,” said guard Sean Jackson, who had a career-high 23 points. “We haven’t been able to do that this year. Tonight, we took the opportunity.”

Several of them did.

Jerry Green had a career-high 29 points, making 11 of 15 shots. He also had four assists and five steals.

It was Green who got the Anteaters moving by scoring the last seven points of the first half for a 46-40 Irvine lead. The Anteaters never trailed again.

“I think we played more as a team tonight than we have all season,” Green said.

Edmond, who has strung together five consecutive solid games, missed his first three shots, then made seven of eight. Irvine shot 53% from the field.

It was the Mustangs who wore down.

Edmond and Jackson tag-teamed San Luis Obispo guard Mike Wozniak. He finished with 19 points, but struggled for every one.

Freshman center Greg Ethington was even more effective on Chris Bjorklund, the Mustangs’ leading scorer. Bjorklund made five of his first six shots, but did not score the final 25 minutes.

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Ethington scored eight points, five above his average. He had a career-high 11 rebounds, including six offensive--three of which he turned into baskets.

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