Anteaters challenge Utah State tonight

Steve Virgen

The time has come again for UC Irvine. It’s time for the UCI men’s

basketball team to receive another challenge. It’s time for the

Anteaters to play at Utah State.

UCI, which overcame a three-game losing streak with two straight

wins last week, will face Big West Conference rival Utah State

tonight at 5:35 at the Smith Spectrum. The Anteaters (13-7, 7-4 in

the Big West) are one game behind the Aggies (17-5, 8-3), who are in

a tie for first place in the Big West with UC Santa Barbara.

UCI Coach Pat Douglass said his squad gained momentum and

confidence in earning two home victories last week over UC Riverside

and Cal State Fullerton.

“I thought our kids rallied together, more so than any time of the

year,” Douglass said. “They played with better effort. It’s a step in

the right direction and that’s what you want to have as we get closer

to the league tournament.”

The Anteaters’ 72-52 victory over Fullerton was arguably UCI’s

best played game in terms of offense and defense. UCI senior Mike

Hood scored a season-high 21 points on his way to Big West Player of

the Week honors. UCI’s defense held Fullerton to 16 points in the first half and the Anteaters shot 68% (15 of 22) in the second half.

However, Douglass pointed out the ‘Eaters will not have the

comfort of playing at home.

The past three games between the Aggies have been decided by one,

one and two points. Hood hit a game-winning scoop shot to beat the

buzzer in overtime, leading UCI to a 75-73 win over Utah State at the

Bren Events Center Jan. 15. Douglass said he would be satisfied if

the game is close again.

“They play real well at home,” Douglass said of the Aggies, who

are 53-2 at home against Big West opponents over the past six years.

“We’re the only team in league that has beaten them there in quite

awhile. They’re a tough team at home. I’ll be glad if it’s a close

game.”

Utah State Coach Stew Morrill, who guided the Aggies to a share of

a Big West regular-season title with UCI last year, expects his squad

to be especially geared for the game because it is televised.

“We have a Fox Sports game where they will showcase our arena, our

crowd and hopefully everybody will respond,” Morrill said in his

weekly press conference Tuesday. “When we have the energy in the

building, it helps us and that’s what we are hoping for.”

The Aggies are led by 6-foot-7 forward Desmond Penigar, who is

averaging 15.4 points per game. Penigar was held to eight points in

the last meeting between the two teams. Toraino Johnson (7.9 ppg)

stepped up with 18 points.

UCI junior Stanislav Zuzak scored a season-high 20 points against

Utah State Jan. 15. The 6-10 forward also showed his potential with

17 points against Fullerton Saturday.

The Anteaters also feature senior forward Jordan Harris, UCI’s

leading scorer who averages a team-high 11.6 points per game.

However, he has not scored in double figures the last four games.

Harris used to play on the same recreational league team as Mark

Brown, who is now the starting point guard of the Aggies. Brown, who

averages nine points and 4.8 assists per game, is a junior transfer

from Saddleback College.

UCI freshman point guard Jeff Gloger, who has scored 53 points in

the last four games, guides the offense. Gloger leads the Big West in

steals with 58. Adam Parada, the Anteaters’ 7-0 junior center, became

the school’s career leader in blocks (100) with two blocked shots on

Saturday.

“They shot 60% in the game against Fullerton and just blew them

out,” Morrill said of the Anteaters. “Fullerton went zone the whole

game and that’s tough to do against Irvine. They are very good

against a zone. That sounds very simplistic, but that’s the way it

is. Some weeks you make shots and others you don’t.”

UCI should be strengthened by the return of sophomore back-up

center Greg Ethington, as Douglass said his status is improving.

Ethington did not play Saturday because of a partially dislocated

shoulder suffered against Riverside. Perhaps, the Anteaters’ main

strength this season has been their depth and Ethington provides

such.

“He might be a go for (today),” Douglass said Tuesday. “His

shoulder has improved.”