College men’s basketball: UCI invades Pyramid

The Anteaters of UC Irvine have already clinched no worse than the

No. 2 seed in the Big West Conference, but they are hoping for more.

Going into UCI’s final men’s basketball game of the regular season

against host Long Beach State tonight at 5:35, the Anteaters are a

half-game behind conference-leading Utah State (21-4, 13-3 in the Big

West).

“It’s a game we really need to win,” UCI junior forward Jordan Harris

said. “Just in case Utah State loses on the road, we’ll have a share of

the title. It would be good momentum going into the Big West Tournament.

It’s not a good thing to enter the tournament on a losing note.”

If the Anteaters (20-8, 13-4) fulfill their end of the bargain with a

victory in tonight’s contest, which will be televised on Fox Sports Net

2, Utah State would have to lose on the road against Pacific tonight and

Cal State Northridge Saturday to hand the Anteaters the No. 1 seed.

The 49ers (12-16, 8-9) enter tonight’s game on a four-game win streak.

Leading Long Beach offensively will be senior center Travis Reed (14.6

points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game) and senior guard Ron Johnson

(12.3 ppg). Junior forward Tony Darden is also a threat with a 9.9 points

per game average.

“Reed has been playing really well,” Harris said. “(Reed) and Johnson

are two key guys for them. We are probably going to try to contain them

and not let them get off to a good start.”

The Anteaters will counter with senior guard Jerry Green, who leads

the conference in scoring with a 20.5 points per game average. Adam

Parada (12.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg) is second on the team in scoring, followed by

Harris (11.8 ppg, 7.1 ppg).

Harris, a transfer from Colgate University, had a UCI career high 30

points against the 49ers when the host Anteaters beat Long Beach, 75-69,

in the first round of conference action on Dec. 22.

“I think this game is really important,” Harris said. “We don’t want

to lose games, especially if Utah slips on the road. We are ready to play

... It’s a one game at a time kind of thing. We don’t want to look too

far ahead (to the conference tournament). There are a lot of different

scenarios. Right now we want to get to Long Beach and beat those guys.”

The Big West tournament will be held March 7-9 at the Anaheim

Convention Center Arena. UCI will play March 7 at 6 p.m. against an

opponent to be determined. The last conference contest, a battle between

Idaho and Pacific, will be held Sunday.