Command Performance

Steve Virgen

Perhaps, the best place to find shooting rhythm is at home, or,

for the UC Irvine men’s basketball team, at the Bren Events Center.

With former UCI standout Jerry Green looking, on six players

scored in double figures for the Anteaters, who shot 62% from the

field in the first half en route to a 96-79 nonconference victory

over Indiana-Purdue, Fort Wayne in front of 1,997 Saturday night.

UCI forwards Stanislav Zuzak and Jordan Harris both came off the

bench and led the Anteaters (5-3) with 18 points each, while redshirt

freshman Ross Schraeder contributed a career-high 15 points in his first collegiate start.

UCI 7-foot junior center Adam Parada scored 14 points, also in a

reserve role. Freshman Mike Efevberha added 13 points and freshman

point guard Jeff Gloger scored 12.

UCI had shot a season-low 33% from the field in a 62-50 win at

Saint Mary’s, and 38.2% in an 84-57 loss at Stanford last week.

“It was good to show some flow tonight, but we know we have to

come back stronger on Monday,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said. “Ross

Schraeder gave us a lift starting the game. And, it was good for

Parada to score 14 and grab eight rebounds and not get into foul

trouble in the 23 minutes he played.”

Schraeder started in place of Harris, who missed practice on

Christmas night, Douglass said. Schraeder scored the Anteaters’ first

five points, including a three-pointer. UCI connected on its first

four shots to grab an 8-0 lead and never looked back.

Efevberha nailed his third three-pointer in as many attempts with

13:47 left in the first half to give the Anteaters an 18-9 lead.

Then, UCI went on a 12-2 run, capped by Harris’ two free throws for a

27-11 lead.

The Anteaters hit 7 of 9 from the three-point line in the first

half, as Efevberha and Schraeder knocked down three each and Parada

added one.

Harris and Efevberha both said they enjoyed the Anteaters’

shooting performance but did not like their defensive play. The

Mastodons’ Terry Collins scored a game-high 36 points, including a

9-of-13 outing from the three-point line. Jim Kessenich (13) also

scored in double figures for Indiana-Purdue (2-11).

“The team was shooting in a good rhythm,” Efevberha said. “Ross

hit some big shots in the beginning and I was hitting some, too.

Overall, we took some nice open shots and knocked them down.”

Efevberha also said the Christmas night practice session helped

the Anteaters restore order.

“It gave us a chance to bond,” UCI’s lone true freshman said. “It

was rough and we knew we were under some pressure. But we responded.”

The Anteaters did not shoot as well in the second half, going

37.1% from the field and finishing 48.4% for the game. However, UCI

was able to maintain its offensive flow in the second half.

Zuzak scored all 18 of his points in the second half. He hit one

three-pointer, while Schraeder added one trey of his own, which led

to UCI’s biggest lead of the game, 87-63, with 4:16 remaining.

“I think we’re making progress,” Douglass said. “We have won five

of our past six games. I think we’re going to be a fun team to watch

play. But we’re definitely not where we want to be.”

Gloger led the Anteaters with four steals. He also grabbed eight

rebounds, yet Douglass was quick to note his point guard committed

seven turnovers.

However, Douglass also commended Gloger on his ability to start

the fast break.

UCI will close out its nonconference schedule Monday, hosting

Florida Atlantic, which earned a NCAA Tournament berth last season,

at 7:35 p.m.

Then it’s on to the Big West, starting Saturday night at Long

Beach State.

ZOTS -- Jerry Green, UCI’s career scoring leader, came home for

the holidays. On Monday, he will return to Germany, where he competes

in a pro league. “It feels good to be back,” Green said. “There are a

lot of memories here. A lot of memories.” ... Douglass was also

pleased to Green. They hugged during halftime after Green was

interviewed on radio. “It was great to see Jerry,” Douglass said.

“All the players enjoy seeing him. I think anytime he’s mentioned or

we see him, that brings smiles to our faces.” Douglass went with the

same starting lineup that led to the win at Saint Mary’s, with

Schrader being the only difference. Douglass said he liked the lineup

that started at Saint Mary’s and might go with that again Monday, but

could possibly have Parada receive his spot again ... UCI scored 26

points off turnovers and held the Mastodons to 39.3% shooting.