‘Eaters, atop the Big West, must avoid Vandalism

Steve Virgen

When UC Irvine senior Mike Hood hit the game-winner to lead the

Anteaters to a 75-73 overtime win over Big West Conference rival Utah

State Wednesday night, it seemed to have signified a turning point in

UCI’s season.

The Anteaters, who had been seemingly searching for their

identity, played their best basketball throughout their emotional win

over Utah State. Now UCI will show if Wednesday night’s win was truly

pivotal.

The Anteaters are tied for first in the conference with University

of the Pacific and Cal State Fullerton, thanks to Cal Poly’s 75-72

victory over Pacific Thursday night.

UCI (9-4, 3-1 in the Big West) will host Idaho (6-8, 2-3) tonight

at 7:05. Idaho, a team that has shown inconsistency this season, is

coming off a 59-55 loss at Long Beach State Thursday. It was the

49ers’ first win over an NCAA Division I opponent this season.

However, last week, the Idaho Vandals scored a 66-50 victory over Cal

Poly, which is tied for second in the Big West with Utah State and UC

Santa Barbara. “In league, it’s 18 ballgames,” UCI Coach Pat Doulgass

said. “(Idaho) is one of 18, so you better be ready to play, because

in this conference anyone can win on any given night. We know the

Vandals will be very eager to play after losing on the road to Long

Beach. We’re definitely not taking them lightly.”

The Vandals are led by 6-foot-4 forward Tyrone Hayes, a junior

transfer who is averaging 14 points per game in conference play.

Idaho Coach Leonard Perry also boasts 6-8 junior forward Jon Tinnon

(9.9 ppg) and freshman guard Ronnie Smith, who returned last week

after serving a team suspension.

Idaho was picked to finish ninth out of the 10 teams in the Big

West in the coaches’ and media preseason poll, but the Vandals’

victory over Cal Poly displayed they are better than that prediction.

Idaho has also had its problems this season, mainly because the loss

of sophomore point guard Tanoris Shepard, whose season ended when he

tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last month.

Senior Justin Logan has taken over the point guard position, and

continues to guide the Vandals’ offense.

Logan will most likely face one of the better defenders in the Big

West in UCI freshman Jeff Gloger, who is third in the nation in

steals (3.58 steals per game). Gloger got into foul trouble

Wednesday, while junior Aras Baskauskas filled in and provided sound

defense.

Hood, who made his first start in seven games, scored 17 points,

dished out four assists and recorded three steals. UCI junior forward

Stanislav Zuzak scored a season-high and game-high 20 points. He also

delivered his best defensive performance of the season, as he held

Utah State standout Desmond Penigar to eight points and 3-of-12

shooting from the field.

“I played a good game finally,” Zuzak said Wednesday night. “I

felt it coming the last couple of games. It just felt good.”

UCI 7-0 junior center Adam Parada, the Anteaters’ leading scorer,

finished with 13 points Wednesday. Freshman Mike Efevberha, who had

been starting the past seven games, and freshman Ross Schraeder, who

has been one of the first players off the bench, logged just three,

and six minutes, respectively against Utah State.

“The combination we had out there was doing fine,” said Douglass,

who has utilized eight different starting lineups this season. “I

thought (Wednesday) was a game for the veterans.”

The Anteaters lead the Idaho series 8-3, as UCI has won the last

five meetings. Last season, UCI claimed wins of 92-54 in Idaho, and

52-38 at the Bren Events Center. The ‘Eaters have won 31 of their

last 34 home games at the Bren Center, dating back to the end of the

1999-2000 season.

UCI unveiled its Big West regular-season championship banners of

2001 and 2002 Wednesday night in front of 3,205 fans at the Bren.

Douglass said he was a bit surprised of the skimpy turnout because

the Utah State game usually fills up the arena. However, Douglass

explained the home game against Utah State usually takes place later

in the season when more is at stake.