Irvine Barely Escapes

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 Sunday.

“We’ll take it,” Douglass 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 in the last 11 minutes.

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

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.

Some low points for High Point (6-8), a Division I team from North Carolina:

Anthony Jackson shot an airball on a free throw with the Panthers leading, 46-43.

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

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

Irvine’s Zamiro Bennem snagged the ball and fed Green, who was fouled. He made the first free throw, then came up short on the second. Irvine forward Marek 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 for Ignatavicius to airball a three-point attempt and Bennem to tack on two free throws.

Green made seven of his last nine shots. Irvine trailed, 47-43, when he scored 16 points in five minutes, giving Irvine a 63-58 lead.

Then came the Anteaters’ collapse--and then their victory.

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