Rigdon Gets Hot Late to Pace UC Irvine Past Alabama State

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. —  After watching the Steve Rogers show for 34 minutes, UC Irvine’s Dylan Rigdon decided to provide a little entertainment of his own Friday night.

The Anteaters’ sophomore guard scored 12 points in the final 5 minutes 38 seconds as UCI rallied to defeat Alabama State, 102-98, in the second game of the Dr. Pepper Classic at Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The Anteaters (5-6) will play host Tennessee-Chattanooga (5-5), a 92-79 winner over San Francisco, in tonight’s championship game.

Rigdon’s efforts overshadowed a 42-point game by Rogers, the Hornets’ 6-foot-5 senior guard. Rogers scored his 42nd point with 6:31 to play, but hardly touched the ball again. That was as much a key to the Anteaters’ victory as Rigdon, who finished with a team-high 26 points and five rebounds.

“We really did a good job on Rogers, didn’t we?” Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan said, laughing. “How many did he have, 60? Every time I looked up, he was at the free-throw line.”

But not during the final six minutes, when Irvine took control of the game. After Rogers’ three-point basket gave Alabama State (7-4) an 89-80 lead with 6:31 left, the Anteaters went on a 16-7 run in the next four minutes to tie the score at 96 with 2:21 to play.

The Hornets reclaimed the lead, 98-96, on two free throws by Lemone Shaw, but Rigdon’s two free throws and a layup put UCI ahead, 100-98, with 59 seconds left. The Hornets worked for a good shot on their next possession, but Jeff Herdman’s block of Martin Hogan’s layup attempt gave the ball back to the Anteaters. UCI appeared in control after Eric Thomas intentionally fouled Ricky Butler with 25 seconds to play.

Butler missed both free throws, however, and when the Hornets forced a jump ball and regained possession, they had a chance for a game-winning shot with 19 seconds left.

With all eyes on Rogers, the Hornets’ Dexter Trailer took a quick three-point shot that was blocked by Butler. Rigdon’s two free throws provided the final margin.

“The wrong player took the last shot for us,” Alabama State Coach James Oliver said. “We wanted the ball in Rogers’ hands, but our player just reacted too quickly. I guess it was my fault for not calling time out and setting up a play.”

Besides Rigdon, four other UCI players scored in double figures. Butler had 23, Herdman 19, Craig Marshall 13 and Gerald McDonald 11.

“Jeff Herdman carried us in the first half, Rigdon in the second half and Butler the whole game,” Mulligan said. “This wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take it. Coming off our win last week against Cal, we weren’t sure how we’d do with the Christmas break.”