Big test looms for Anteaters

UC Irvine students are amid fall-quarter final exams. However, the

UCI men’s basketball team’s testing will continue into next week. The

Anteaters appear better prepared, as opposed to their last “exam” in

the form of then-No. 7 Oklahoma to open the season, Nov. 22. UCI

lost, 87-65, as Oklahoma pulled away with a late 17-1 run.

This time, the Anteaters have found rhythm, winning three in a row

as they head into their game at No. 17 Stanford, which will be

Thursday at 7 p.m. For those who have satellite TV the game will be

televised on KRON TV in San Francisco. On the radio, the game will be

on KUCI/88.9 FM with Mark Roberts calling the play-by-play.

“We’re more prepared for this game against Stanford,” UCI senior

forward Jordan Harris said after the Anteaters defeated

Pomona-Pitzer, 91-23, Saturday night, setting school records for

margin of victory and fewest points allowed. “We have chemistry.

Everyone is energetic and we’re coming together.”

UCI Coach Pat Douglass also said the Anteaters acquired their

identity of an inside-outside game, a strong inside presence combined

with productive perimeter shooting, after wins over Pepperdine and

Loyola Marymount. Douglass also says the Anteaters are improving each

week.

It remains to be seen if all that will result in a win at

Stanford, but the game against the Cardinal will definitely be tight

and competitive. Then, three days later, the Anteaters will be tested

again at Saint Mary’s, a contender in the West Coast Conference,

which also includes Gonzaga and Pepperdine.

* Douglass’ squad will resume action at the Bren Events Center,

Dec. 28, against Indiana-Purdue, Fort Wayne. Attendance at the Bren

has improved from last year to this season, in just the first two

games for UCI, and it should continue to improve. UCI has sold

approximately 1,000 more tickets for men’s basketball than it did at

this point last year, said Blake Sasaki, UCI’s Assistant Athletic

Director in charge of marketing and promotions. The season tickets

have increased 1,200 more than last year.

Sasaki also mentioned UCI will provide a mini-ticket plan for four

key Big West Conference games. The plan includes home games Utah

State (Jan. 15), UC Santa Barbara (Jan. 30), Cal State Fullerton

(Feb. 8) and Cal State Northridge (Feb. 20) for $40, which will save

$8 from the normal price.

“This guarantees you a ticket to each of those games, which are

big games,” Sasaki said. “Plus you have the same seat for each game.”