Anteaters eyeing third straight win

Steve Virgen

UC Irvine’s matchup with Pomona-Pitzer is obviously not about

Ratings Percentage Index points, the system that aids in determining

NCAA Tournament teams in men’s college basketball.

However, it hardly matters who the Anteaters face tonight at 7 at

the Bren Events Center. Tonight’s game is mainly about the Anteaters

displaying their identity of an inside presence combined with

productive perimeter shooting, which should also prepare them for

their next game, at No. 17 Stanford Dec. 19.

UCI (2-2) used its inside-outside method to collect an 81-66

victory over visiting Loyola Marymount Wednesday night, as 7-foot

junior center Adam Parada scored a career-high 28 points, while

junior forward Stanislav Zuzak and freshman reserve guard Ross

Schraeder hit two three-pointers each.

“It’s like any game, in that we’re focusing on improving our

team,” Douglass said of facing Pomona-Pitzer, a NCAA Division III

program. “This is another opportunity to continue improvement and

keep learning. (Against LMU) we acquired our identity. It is a

different style from last year when we were a little more perimeter

oriented. I think the kids are adjusting offensively. We’re also

working on defense and the transition game. Even though we’re big we

feel we can run the ball and get out on the fast break. I also think

that Jeff Gloger is starting to look more and more like a point

guard.”

Gloger, a redshirt freshman, has put together solid performances

the past two games which he has started, Douglass said. Gloger is

joined by senior Mike Hood in the backcourt, while Parada leads a

frontcourt with Zuzak and senior Jordan Harris, with junior Matt

Okoro and sophomore Greg Ethington in supporting roles.

Against LMU, junior guard Aras Baskauskas contributed solid

defense and also dished out an assist on one of Schraeder’s

three-pointers. Baskauskas, along with the rest of the guards, have

also improved on ball handling the past two games, Douglass said.

After UCI’s 87-65 loss to then-No. 7 Oklahoma in the Sooner

Invitational, following opponents learned to pressure the Anteater

guards. But, Douglass said there have been improvements.

“We handled the press against Pepperdine,” Douglass said. “Our

perimeter players need to continue to knock down shots, too. I also

think if you zone us, that might not work, because we’re a good

outside shooting team. We have a good mix of inside and out.”

The Sagehens (1-3) will attempt to counter UCI’s attack tonight

with 6-foot-6 freshman Edward Beron-Wexler, who is leading the team

with 11.8 points per game, and 6-6 sophomore Alexander Lloyd.

Pomona-Pitzer finished 14-10 overall and 9-5 in the Southern

California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference last year.

Douglass said he was happy with Wednesday night’s attendance of

2,010. Douglass and his players shook hands and thanked some of the

fans after the win over LMU.

“We have finals next week, so we had a lot of students who weren’t

there and we missed some of the CIA (Completely Insane Anteaters),”

Douglass said. “But the ones who were there were quite vocal. It will

grow. We had a big turnout for Midnight Magic, so we know there will

be more coming.”