Irvine Again Falls to Las Vegas : But This Time, Anteaters Make Game of It, 114-103

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

This time, Las Vegas Coach Jerry Tarkanian nearly gnawed his way through his 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 a 114-103 loss to the Rebels before a sellout crowd of 4,644 at the Bren Center.

The victory improved Las Vegas’ overall record to 20-1 and its Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. mark to 9-0. Irvine dropped to 11-9 and 6-5.

After opening its conference road schedule Jan. 3 with a 114-72 loss, 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, which set new noise levels at 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 fouled out.

“That just killed us,” Mulligan said.

“We need Wayne in the ballgame,” Brooks added. “Wayne had 20 points in about 18 minutes. He doesn’t help us sitting on the bench.”

With Engelstad out of the game, Las Vegas put the game away. Forward Armon Gilliam finished with 36 points, followed by guard Freddie Banks with 27 and center Jarvis Basnight with 18.

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.

Say this about Irvine: At least this time, the Anteaters managed to hold the Rebels’ attention.