Feeling OK-oro

Steve Virgen

For UC Irvine to break out of its three-game losing streak, it

went back to the basics. And what better way to strive for the

fundamentals than to look to junior forward Matt Okoro? That’s right,

Matt Okoro.

He’s not the scoring leader of the Anteaters’ men’s basketball

team, but in terms of energy and the display of the fundamentals,

he’s the ‘Eaters’ go-to guy.

Okoro, who had tallied five points in the past four games, scored

12 points, all in the second half, and provided UCI with momentum,

mainly because of two slam dunks.

In addition, the UCI backcourt of Mike Hood (game-high18 points)

and Jeff Gloger (16) helped lead the Anteaters to a 78-61 Big West

Conference victory over UC Riverside Wednesday in front of a small

crowd of 1,496 at the Bren Events Center.

Senior center Adam Parada contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds to

help the Anteaters break out of their longest losing streak in three

years. UCI improved to 12-7, 6-4 in the Big West.

“He’s been a key for our team the whole season, (including) the

win over Utah State,” Douglass said of Okoro. “For him to provide the

energy was big for us.”

Okoro also provided UCI with defense, which was, perhaps, his most

important contribution. For most of the game, he guarded UCR freshman

sensation Nate Carter, who leads the Big West in scoring (18.3 points

per game). Carter finished with a season-low seven points.

“That’s probably as good a job anyone has done on (Carter),”

Douglass said.

It was just a matter of simple fundamentals for Okoro.

“I’m just trying to come in every game and play my role,” Okoro

said. “I play defense and bring energy to the team. I want to create

energy and by getting the dunks, it’s good for the team’s momentum.”

UCI has been struggling with complacency in the second half,

mainly in a 74-68 loss to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Saturday. But

Okoro put an exclamation point on the Anteaters’ breakout in the

final 20 minutes.

UCI outscored UCR, 19-9, in the first eight minutes of the second

half.

Okoro scored the final four points of the run, including a

two-handed jam on a breakaway he created off his own steal. That gave

UCI a 51-33 lead.

Later, with 5:17 remaining, Okoro left the crowd buzzing after he

took a defender off the dribble and stuffed the ball with his right

hand, giving UCI a 65-45 lead. The dunk caused the Anteaters on the

UCI bench to jump out of their seats in celebration.

“He gets us going with those dunks,” said Gloger, who provided UCI

with energy in the first half. “We feed off those dunks and when Matt

plays like that he gives us more momentum.”

Gloger and Hood scored nine points in the first half, when UCI

shot 54.2% (13 of 24) and built a 32-24 lead. The Highlanders (4-12,

3-7) chose to clog the middle on defense and basically left Gloger

open on the outside.

“You don’t challenge him,” Douglass said of the defensive strategy

in reference to Gloger. “He’s remarkable in as far as poise.”

UCR actually had to concentrate on the low post on defense. Their

tallest starter is 6-7, and their tallest player is Klaus Schille,

who is a 6-11 freshman from Berlin, Germany. The Highlanders’

strategy paid off the last time these two teams met.

UCR, which will be able to qualify for the Big West Tournament

next year, also shot a season-high 62.5%, but ended up losing, 81-77,

Jan. 11, in a game that had 32 lead changes. The Highlanders are in

their second year of NCAA Division I basketball.

The Highlanders seemed to take advantage when the Anteaters were

in a zone defense in the first half.

UCI opened with a 9-2 lead, but UCR came back with six straight

points. The Anteaters then went on a 13-4 run to grab a 22-12 lead

after sophomore forward Greg Ethington scored in the paint off an

assist from Okoro.

The Anteaters will host Big West rival Cal State Fullerton

Saturday night at 7:05.

It will be UCI’s Homecoming/Hall of Fame game.

ZOTS -- The 1,496 attendance is the fewest this season and is

below any of the crowds of last year ... UCI’s 78-61 win is the

largest margin of victory in Big West play, thus far ... The

Anteaters lead the series over UCR, 18-14, and they have won last six

meetings ... UCI is 8-0 when scoring 70 points or more ... The

Anteaters are also 8-0 when shooting at least 48%, as they shot 55.6%

Wednesday evening.