Anteaters fall, 58-52

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Illinois State opened with an 8-0 run and

never trailed in defeating UC Irvine’s men’s basketball team, 58-52, in

the first round of the University Hoops Classic Friday at the Sewall

Center on the Robert Morris College campus.

UC Irvine went scorelsss in the first 5:40 of playing time, yet

trailed by only eight points. Junior guard Mike Hood hit a three-point

shot at 14:20 to cut the deficit to five points.

The Redbirds, behind senior guard Shawn Jeppson’s eight points and

sophomore guard Vince Greene’s seven points, led 26-21 at halftime.

Illinois State (2-0) led by as many as 12 points in the second half,

taking a 49-37 lead with 6:24 remaining.

The Anteaters then went on a 10-0 run, including a pair of

three-pointers by Hood, to trail, 49-47, with 4:08 left in the game.

Two free throws by junior forward Bojang Boboucarr extended the

Redbirds’ lead to 51-47 with 3:19 remaining and the Anteaters could never

cut the margin to less than four points.

Senior Jerry Green scored 13 points, including nine in the second half

to share UCI scoring honors with Hood. Green added seven rebounds, five

steals and four assists, while Hood was 4 of 7 from three-point range.

The Anteaters (2-1) meet the Oakland Pioneers of Rochester, Mich. in

today’s consolation semifinal at 10 a.m. (PST).

University Hoops Classic

First Round

Illinois State 58, UC Irvine 52

Illinois State - Alexander 7, Ford 9, Baboucarr 13, Rice 0, Jeppson

12, Williams 6, Strandmark 0, Greene 11, Casey 0.

3-pt. goals - Jeppson 2, Greene 2, Alexander 1, Ford 1.

Fouled out - Jeppson.

Technicals - none.

UC Irvine - Christ 4, Harris 7, Parada 6, Green 13, Baskauskas 5,

Zuzak 2, Hood 13, Okoro 2.

3-pt. goals - Hood 4.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - UC Irvine bench 1.

Halftime - Illinois State, 26-21.