UC Irvine loses to Mississippi State
Barry Stewart scored 18 points and Jamont Gordon had 15 as Mississippi State handily beat UC Irvine on Thursday in the opening game of the inaugural Anaheim Classic.
Stewart shot six for 10 from the field and Gordon was seven for 12 as the Bulldogs (3-1), playing on the road for the first time this season, led for all but the opening minute and by double digits most of the game.
Today they will play Southern Illinois, which routed Chattanooga, 63-41, Thursday.
UC Irvine (2-2) plays Chattanooga.
Patrick Sanders led the Anteaters with 18 points and Darren Fells had 15. Irvine shot only 35% from the field.
The Anteaters pulled to within five early in the second half, but Charles Rhodes took Mississippi State back to a double-digit lead with a three-point play.
A driving layup from Ben Hansbrough then completed a 14-4 run that put the Bulldogs up, 55-40, with 12:47 remaining.
Irvine got no closer than nine the rest of the game.
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