AFC

Maybe there was cause for concern.

Maybe there was a little stress.

Maybe a few people will snicker: UC Irvine 74, High Point 69 . . . High Point?

Maybe. But the small sigh and raised eyebrows from Irvine Coach Pat Douglass made one thing clear.

“We’ll take it,” he said.

No, you couldn’t return this one, even with a receipt. Fortunately for both teams, it came in near privacy--an announced crowd of 659 at the Bren Center.

Still, Irvine managed two minutes of solid basketball--the last two--and scored the last 10 points for the victory. Guard Jerry Green, who matched his career high with 27 points, scored 23 in the second half, all the last 11 minutes.

His three-pointer tied the score, 69-69, with 42 seconds left. He made three of four free throws in the last 25 seconds.

“I knew I needed to shoot it up,” Green said. “If I shoot it up, we win nine of 10 games.”

Two minutes, 10 points and out the door. But, it left the Anteaters with a 7-4 nonconference record, their best start since 1982-83.

Maybe there were better ways to head into Big West Conference play, but there are certainly worse ways. For example, Irvine getting crushed by San Diego in last season’s nonconference finale.

“We have more depth now and more experience,” said forward Marek Ondera, who had 15 points and six rebounds. “We’ve had a taste of winning so I don’t think any of us will settle for less.”

There were flashes of that.

Ben Jones hit four of five three-pointers and had 12 points in the first half, pushing the Anteaters to a 35-28 halftime lead.

Freshman center Matt Okoro showed his raw ability with eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Green scored 16 points in a five-minute span, for a 63-58 lead with 5:20 left.

None of that would have mattered, though, if the Anteaters hadn’t done their two-minute drill.

“We were a step slow all day,” Douglass said. “I guess we got in a desperate situation and started playing with some urgency.”

High Point (6-8) may be a Division I team from North Carolina, but this wasn’t exactly a trip down tobacco road to some good ol’ ACC basketball.

Some of High Point’s low points:

Anthony Jackson shot an airball on a free throw in the second half.

Mantas Ignatavicius dribbled the ball off his foot and out of bounds with a 65-63 lead and 3:30 left.

Finally, Brooks Lee had a pass slip out of his hands with the score tied, 69-69, and 34 seconds left.

Zamiro Bennem snagged the ball and fed Green, who was fouled. He made one free throw, then came up short on the second. But Ondera tipped the ball back to Green, who was fouled again and made both free throws for a 72-69 lead.

All that was left was Ignatavicius airballing a three-point try and Bennem making two free throws.