College basketball: “Midnight Magic” features UCI basketball teams

IRVINE - At the stroke of midnight on Friday, UC Irvine’s

basketball teams will be on display in “Midnight Magic” at the Bren

Center.

The event will feature drills, a slam-dunk competition and a shooting

contest.

The men’s squad is coming off a record-setting season, in which the

team won the Big West Conference title for the first time in school

history. The Anteaters finished 25-5 to set a school record for most wins

in a season.

UCI also advanced to the National Invitation Tournament for the third

time in history, but lost to Tulsa, 75-71.

Senior guard Jerry Green is one of the Anteaters’ most notable

returning players. He averaged 19 points per game and was named Big West

player of the year last season.

Pat Douglass will begin his fifth season as coach of the Anteaters.

The women’s team is led by senior forward Cindy Oparah, a first-team

All-Big West selection last season, who led the conference in rebounding

with 8.4 per game. Oparah also averaged 10.5 points per game last season.

The Anteaters finished 16-13 last year. Mark Adams will begin his

fifth season as coach for the UCI women’s team.

Doors for “Midnight Magic” will open at 11:15 p.m. Admission is free.