Irvine Turns to Green for Victory

Junior guard Jerry Green shook off early foul trouble and scored 24 points to lead UC Irvine to a 65-61 Big West Conference men’s basketball victory over Idaho at the Bren Center on Thursday night.

It was the sixth consecutive victory for Irvine (10-2, 2-0 in conference play), the school’s best streak since 1984.

Green made 11 of 12 free throws, including four in the final 2:35. Senior guard Sean Jackson, who finished with 10 points, had two free throws in the waning moments.

Green, who sat out nearly 11 minutes of the first half with three fouls, saw his consecutive free-throw shooting streak end at 21 when he missed with 8:25 remaining.

Freshman center Adam Parada finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and two assists for Irvine.

Guard Adam Miller, who made five of 10 three-point shots, kept the Vandals (3-11, 0-3) in the game late with a variety of off-balance jumpers. He finished with 18 points.

Miller’s three-point basket at the 3:40 mark cut Irvine’s lead to 59-55 and a little over a minute later Matt Gerschefski made a three-pointer to cut Irvine’s lead to 61-58.

Irvine missed several shots but also held off the Vandals at the other end of the floor, and then with 40 seconds left Green fed Jackson for a layup and Jackson was fouled.

Jackson’s free throws made it 63-58 and Green followed 25 seconds later with another two free throws.

Green was the go-to guy early. His three-pointer 25 seconds into the game got things going and in the next eight minutes he added another basket and a two three-pointers for a 21-14 lead.

Green was called for charging on Irvine’s next possession for his third foul. He went to the bench for the remainder of the first half with more than 10 minutes to go.

Despite making only seven of their first 20 shots, the Vandals scored the next six consecutive points to trail, 23-20.

Idaho could have taken a halftime lead, but converted only two of four free throws and trailed, 27-26, at halftime.