There’s Nothing Small About UCI’s Win Over Pacific

UC Irvine spent most of its three-day trip here preparing to do battle against host Pacific in what figured to be a war on the backboards.

They didn’t expect Pacific guard Maurice McLemore to go off with a career-high 33 points, but nonetheless the practice worked.

Irvine got 31 points from guard Jerry Green, hard-working efforts from back-up centers Stanislav Zuzak and J.R. Christ, and a good start from 7-foot freshman center Adam Parada as the Anteaters rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the host Tigers, 85-80, in a Big West Conference game played in front of an announced crowd of 4,014 at the Spanos Center.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for Irvine (9-2, 1-0 in conference), which had not won a conference opener since 1994.

Pacific (9-4, 1-1), which opened conference play Thursday by trouncing Cal State Fullerton, 79-50, had its seven-game home winning streak snapped.

Christ, Zuzak and backup guard Aras Baskauskas didn’t have a lot to show for their efforts in the box score, but Irvine Coach Pat Douglass didn’t hide the fact that he felt the game was won inside.

Repeatedly in practices this week, Douglass stressed to his players that Pacific’s 6-10, 260-pound center Tim Johnson and 6-7, 225-pound forward Mike Hahn, as well as several backups, would try to push the Anteaters around.

Hahn did, making seven of 14 shots from the field for 15 points, but Johnson made only one of four.

Christ had seven points and six rebounds. Zuzak had eight points, including a three-pointer with 13 minutes 26 seconds left that ended a 19-0 Pacifc run that saw the Tigers take a 57-40 lead.

Baskauskas played another 11 minutes of heady defense and managed a two rebounds.

Parada had nine points and seven rebounds and forward Ben Jones moved from his power forward spot to small forward in the second half and sparked Irvine’s comeback by making two three-pointers in the half. He finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.

“Their game plan was to manhandle us,” Christ said. “Their mind set was to take advantage of their strength underneath. In the first half we were getting caught behind Pacific players on defense. We fronted them more in the second half. To neutralize the post was a big part of the game.”

Douglass agreed.

“They didn’t beat us on the boards, but their point guard was lighting it up,” Douglass said of McLemore, who had never scored more than 20 points in any game of his career. “They tried to attack us in the post and it wasn’t what we wanted them to do.”

Green put on the finishing touches. His three-pointer with 3:27 remaining gave Irvine the lead for good, 70-69, part of the Anteaters’ 17-2 run that solidified the win.

“Green has been a thorn in our side for years,” Pacific Coach Bob Thomason said. “He’s one of the best guards in the league. McLemore is very capable offensively and he had a big night for us.

“But I was disappointed that we didn’t rotate and take the charge underneath the basket like we should have. I thought our guys had three or four good shots down the stretch and they didn’t go in.”

Irvine was in early foul trouble, but held a two-point halftime lead.

The Tigers came out firing in the second half. McLemore scored seven points in the 19-0 run that gave Pacific a 17-point lead.

The Anteaters came back. Zuzak made a three-pointer and Green hit a three-pointer and converted a three-point play to bring Irvine within 57-48.

McLemore, who had seven three-pointers, answered with a three-pointer and a six-footer.

But Irvine slowly chipped away. The Anteaters made 12 free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Big West Standings

Through Saturday’s games

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Conference Overall Team W L Pct. W L Pct. Long Beach State 2 0 1.000 8 6 .571 Utah State 2 0 1.000 12 2 .857 UC Irvine 1 0 1.000 9 2 .818 UC Santa Barbara 1 0 1.000 4 7 .364 Boise State 1 1 .500 9 6 .600 Pacific 1 1 .500 9 4 .692 Cal Poly SLO 0 2 .000 5 6 .455 CS Fullerton 0 2 .000 1 11 .083 Idaho 0 2 .000 3 10 .231

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Saturday’s results

UC Irvine 85, Pacific 80

Long Beach State 78, Cal State Fullerton 54

Boise State 83, Cal Poly SLO 79

Utah State 80, Idaho 58