Green Hits Another Game-Winner

Jerry Green didn’t let the ball out of his hands this time.

Against Utah State last Saturday, the UC Irvine standout was forced to give up the ball and Mike Hood’s last-second three-point attempt missed in a one-point loss.

With the Anteaters again down one point with the game on the line against Cal State Northridge, the senior guard kept matters in his own hands.

Green made a 15-foot jumper with 15.8 seconds left and added a free throw to help Irvine earn a key 82-80 Big West Conference victory Thursday night before 1,509 at the Matadome.

As a number of NBA scouts looked on, Green saved his best for the end. Starting from the right wing, he found some space to his left when Northridge guard Gene Myvett fell down. Green got to the free-throw line and drilled the jumper over Markus Carr.

“We kind of got some revenge,” Green said.

The Anteaters (18-7, 11-3) avenged a one-point overtime loss Jan. 19 at Irvine.

“Not to take anything away from Mike, but I like to take the last shot,” Green said.

Irvine remained in a first-place tie with Utah State.

Despite a career-high 20 points from Curtis Slaughter and 16 from Lionel Benjamin, the Matadors (8-14, 7-6) dropped their fourth in a row.

“He made a big-time shot,” Slaughter said. “All you can do is tip your hat to him.”

Green finished with a game-high 22 points, hitting seven of 11 shots. Hood and Adam Parada each had 17 for Irvine.

They led the Anteaters back from a 76-71 deficit with 3:01 left. Parada made two free throws and then stole a pass from Carr.

Green came down and made a three-pointer from the corner. Hood then drilled another three for a 79-76 lead after Jordan Harris drew a charging foul on Carr.

“Our kids hung tough,” Irvine Coach Pat Douglass said. “We made some turnovers, but we stayed positive and kept being aggressive. Every game you win on the road is a big win.”

Eric Stephens

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Utah State 60, Cal State Fullerton 45--Jeremy Vague scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Utah State to victory at Logan, Utah.

Desmond Penigar added 11 points and five rebounds for the Aggies (19-4, 11-3).

Pape Sow finished with 17 points and nine rebounds for the Titans (4-18, 1-12), who have lost 18 in a row at Utah State.

Long Beach State 77, Pacific 63--Travis Reed scored 17 points and took nine rebounds to lead Long Beach State to the victory at Stockton.

Reed made seven of 10 shots from the field for the 49ers (14-8, 6-7). Michael Darrett scored 14 points and Ron Johnson added 12 for Long Beach, playing its first game since Coach Wayne Morgan announced his plans to retire at the end of the season.

Demetrius Jackson led Pacific (9-16, 5-9) with 13 points.

UC Riverside 67, Idaho 56--Lloyd Cook scored a season-high 16 points to lead UC Riverside over Idaho at Moscow, Idaho.

The Highlanders (8-13, 5-8) moved into seventh place in the conference while the Vandals (8-15, 5-9) fell to eighth.

Associated Press