UCI Catches UNLV’s Notice, but Too Late

UC Irvine lost again to Nevada Las Vegas Thursday night, 114-103, but this time, the point spread didn’t necessitate a trip to the record book.

This time, Las Vegas Coach Jerry Tarkanian nearly bit his tongue, gnawing his way through his customary courtside towel. This time, Tarkanian kept his starters in until the final minute. This time, the Runnin’ Rebels didn’t have to stifle yawns in the second half. They scuffled instead, with emotions getting the best of them more than once.

Four weeks after suffering the second-worst defeat in its history at the hands of Las Vegas, Irvine came back to at least make things interesting in in front of a sellout crowd of 4,644 in the Bren Center.

Las Vegas, the No. 3-ranked team in the nation, improved its Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. record to 9-0 and overall mark to 20-1. Irvine, the No. 4-ranked team in the PCAA, dropped to 6-5 and 11-9.

It was to be a mismatch, however one looked at it--particularly if one looked at the score of these schools’ previous meeting, a 114-72 Rebel rout Jan. 3. But all week, the Anteaters swore they weren’t 42 points worse than Las Vegas.

In the rematch, they proved as much--although at halftime, Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan had to wonder.

Playing in front of an inspired crowd--some wearing skull caps and brandishing towels as mock Tarks, others setting new noise levels for an Irvine basketball game--the Anteaters came out limp. They shot 31.6% and committed 16 turnovers in the first half.

Amazingly, Irvine trailed by just 15 points (59-44) at intermission.

“I thought it was going to be a repeat of last time,” Mulligan said. “That first half was atrocious. At halftime, I reminded them what practice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday would be like if it kept up that way.”

Irvine staged a recovery in the second half, pulling to within five points several times. Scott Brooks and Wayne Engelstad led the comeback. Brooks hit six three-point baskets in the final 20 minutes en route to a total of 27 points. Engelstad sank 8 of 10 shots for 20 points.

But with Las Vegas leading, 84-77, with 7:26 to play, Engelstad pushed Armon Gilliam under the basket. It was Engelstad’s fifth foul, meaning disqualification.

Call off the upset.

“That just killed us,” Mulligan said.

Added Brooks: “We need Wayne in the ballgame. Wayne had 20 points in about 18 minutes (actually 22). We need him to play 30 to 35 minutes. He doesn’t help us sitting on the bench.”

With Engelstad out, Las Vegas put the game away. Gilliam was given virtual carte blanche, finishing with a career-high 36 points in 32 minutes. He hit 14 of 19 shots and finished with 14 rebounds.

Mulligan played Dial-A-Defender against Gilliam--trying Mike Doktorczyk, Frank Woods, even green-as-grass Arthur Phillips. Nothing short of timeouts stopped Gilliam.

Center Jarvis Basnight had 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, meaning Las Vegas’ two big men combined to sink 20 of 27 shots. That’s 74%.

That’s a good reason why Irvine lost.

The Anteaters could only counter with Brooks, whose 27 points came on nine three-pointers, and Woods, who wound up with 22 points. But that pitiful first half was too much for Irvine to overcome at less than full strength.

“We gave them 20 good minutes,” Brooks said. “But you can’t beat a top-ranked team making 16 turnovers in the first half. I wish I could’ve had that first half back.”

Tempers flared in the final minutes as Brooks and Rebel guard Freddie Banks exchanged shoves and Irvine forward Mike Doktorczyk and Las Vegas guard Gary Graham exchanged words.

Which was a bit different than the final minutes of the Jan. 3 game. Then, the only thing the Rebel starters fought for was a better spot on the bench.