Men’s basketball: UCI takes on Idaho
Amara Aguilar
BREN EVENTS CENTER - UC Irvine Coach Pat Douglass is well aware
that the visiting Idaho Vandals are capable of pulling a fast one in
tonight’s Big West Conference men’s basketball game against the Anteaters
that will be televised on Fox Sports Net 2 at 5:35.
“They really present a problem with their quickness,” Douglass said.
“We have to defend their quickness and do a good job going to the boards,
especially on offense.”
The Anteaters are eighth in the conference for offensive rebounds with
a 10.32 average per game. Idaho is fifth with an 11.85 average, but UCI
is first where it counts most. The Anteaters (16-6, 9-2 in the Big West)
sit at the top of the conference standings while Idaho (7-13, 4-7) is
tied with Long Beach State for seventh place.
Leading UCI offensively is the school’s all-time leading scorer,
senior guard Jerry Green. Last week Green scored 39 points in two wins to
pass Tod Murphy’s mark (1,778) for most career points at UCI. Green leads
the conference in scoring this season with a 20.7 points per game average
and has piled up 1,797 career points.
In addition to Green, sophomore center Adam Parada will look to
contribute on the starting lineup. Parada is second in scoring on the
squad, averaging 12.4 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. Junior
forward Jordan Harris (11.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg), sophomore forward Stanislav
Zuzak (9.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and junior guard Mike Hood (8.5 ppg) will also
start for the Anteaters.
The Vandals will counter with Moe Jenkins (10.6 ppg) and Justin Logan
(9.2 ppg). Logan is averaging 38 minutes of playing time per game.
“They are two outstanding players,” Douglass said. “Logan plays almost
the whole game. Idaho has a lot of players who are effective offensively.
We have to go for everyone.”
The Anteaters defeated the Vandals the last time the two teams faced
each other on Jan. 12. Hood scored a career-high 25 points to help UCI
come away with a 92-54 victory in Idaho.
“We played well when we played them last time,” Douglass said. “They
look to play some zone. We have to shoot the ball well outside. They are
a much improved team and very athletic.”
The Anteaters lead the conference in field goal percentage (.495) and
are fourth in the country in that category. The squad also is at the top
of the conference pack for three-point field goal percentage (.395) and
is ranked No. 21 in the nation.
Big West Standings
UC Irvine 9-2
Utah State 8-3
Cal State Northridge 7-3
Pacific 6-4
Cal Poly 6-5
UC Santa Barbara 6-5
Long Beach State 4-7
Idaho 4-7
UC Riverside 3-8
Cal State Fullerton 1-10
This week’s schedule
Thursday, Feb. 7
Idaho at UC Irvine, 5:35 p.m.
Utah State at Long Beach State, 7:35 p.m.
Cal State Northridge at Cal Poly, 7:05 p.m.
Pacific at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 9
Utah State at UC Irvine, 7:05 p.m.
Idaho at Long Beach State, 7:35 p.m.
UC Riverside at Cal State Fullerton, 7:05 p.m.
Pacific at Cal Poly, 7:05 p.m.
Cal St. Northridge at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.
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