UCI wins in OT

Steve Virgen

Last year it was Jerry Green. This year it was Mike Hood.

Hood, a UC Irvine senior who made his first start in seven games,

hit a game-winning eight-foot one-handed shot to beat the buzzer in

overtime. Hood’s finger-roll-type shot bounced off the rim,

backboard, back off the rim and then went in, leading the Anteaters’

basketball team to a 75-73 overtime win over Big West Conference

rival Utah State before 3,205 fans at the Bren Events Center

Wednesday night. The fans stormed the court and mobbed Hood, who

scored 17 points for UCI (9-4, 3-1 in the Big West).

It was redemption for Hood, who missed a potential game-winning

shot in a 62-61 loss last year at the Bren Center. Last year, Green

hit a game-winner to lead UCI to a 67-66 win in Logan.

“I’m a senior and that’s one of my roles,” Hood said of his

late-game heroics, which has led UCI to its past two victories. “I’m

supposed to lead the team. I just try to do a good job with that.”

For the past six games, UCI freshman Mike Efevberha had been

starting in place of Hood, who scored 11 points, including a key

bucket and two clutch free throws in an 81-77 win at UC Riverside

Saturday.

“I kept playing my game, trying to stay positive,” Hood said of

coming off the bench the past six games. “I told myself: ‘The time

will come and just to be positive.’ ”

Hood’s time came in dramatic fashion. Utah State senior Toraino

Johnson (18 points) nailed a three-point shot from the corner near

his bench with 10.1 seconds left in the overtime, that tied the

score, 73-73, and set the stage for Hood.

The Anteaters did not call a timeout and instead went to Hood in

the game’s closing moments. Hood described the play, as, “nothing,

just trying to get the last shot.”

UCI Coach Pat Douglass’ explanation of the play for Hood?

“That was a really good play, wasn’t it?” Douglass joked. “It was

a nice way to finish it. We lost one like that in Fullerton.”

Douglass was impressed with junior forward Stanislav Zuzak, who

scored a game-high 20 points and applied defensive pressure on Utah

State’s star player, Desmond Penigar. Zuzak held Penigar, for the

most part, to eight points and 3-of-12 shooting from the field.

“Penigar is a strong inside player,” Douglass said. “Stanislav is

not really noted his for his defense and I thought he was remarkable

in his effort tonight. I think he took a major stride in becoming a

complete player.”

UCI 7-foot junior center Adam Parada also scored in double

figures, contributing 13 points, while junior Aras Baskauskas

provided defense while filling in for freshman point guard Jeff

Gloger, who fouled out with 30 seconds left in regulation.

Saturday night’s game was tightly contested, especially in the

second half.

The Anteaters trailed, 51-45, with 12:22 left in regulation after

Aggies junior point guard Mark Brown (13 points) converted a

three-point play.

However, from that point on, the game was tight, as no team led by

more than three and there were four ties. The final tie came when

Brown converted on another three-point play with 30 seconds remaining

to make it 63-63.

Zuzak missed a jump hook from about 10 feet out with three seconds

left and the ball went out of bounds to Utah State (12-4, 3-2) with

one second left.

It appeared an official had waved the end of regulation, but,

after a brief discussion with the other referees, one second was put

back on the clock.

Brown heaved a half-court shot that hit the backboard and the

teams went into overtime.

“Matt Okoro, Greg Ethington and Aras Baskauskas gave us a big lift

with about six minutes left in (regulation),” Douglass said. “ It

looked like, at times, we had it won and, at times, they had it won.

It was one of the back-and-forth games.”

The Anteaters started slowly, falling behind, 6-0, in the first

two minutes. But they came back and stayed within striking distance,

mainly because of Hood’s three-point shooting. Hood scored nine

points in the first half, hitting 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.

UCI took its first lead with 2:28 left, after Parada made a

five-foot hook shot off an inbound pass from Hood. Utah State shot

48% from the field in the first half and took a 32-30 lead into

halftime.

ZOTS -- Memphis Grizzlies’ General Manager Jerry West

was in attendance Saturday night. He said he wasn’t watching anyone

in particular. “I’m just here to catch a good basketball game,” the

former Laker great said at halftime ... It was a reunion of sorts for

UCI senior forward Jordan Harris and Utah State’s Mark Brown. The two

played basketball on the same recreation league team during their

childhood years in Arizona. Brown’s cousin, Dee, is Harris’ best

friend.