‘Eaters collect seventh straight

Steve Virgen

On a night when UC Irvine set two noteworthy achievements, it also

won its seventh-straight game after a scrappy battle with Cal Poly

San Luis Obispo.

UCI freshman point guard Jeff Gloger became the school’s

single-season record holder in steals (70) and the Anteaters’ victory

marked the first time UCI has won at University of the Pacific, Utah

State and Cal Poly in the same season in Pat Douglass’ six years as

head coach.

The Anteaters (18-7, 12-4 in the Big West Conference) remained

atop the Big West and improved their conference-leading road record

to 8-4 after they seemingly outplayed the Mustangs, 68-62, Thursday

night at Cal Poly’s Mott Gym.

“Defensively, our effort was remarkable,” Douglass said.

UCI senior forward Jordan Harris also proved to be remarkable. He

scored a team-high 18 points to go with a season-high 11 rebounds.

This after sitting out of practices on Monday and Tuesday because he

hyperextended his left knee in UCI’s 78-73 overtime win over Pacific.

It’s the same knee that was injured (partial tears of the ACL and

PCL) early this past summer.

However, the latest injury did not prove to be serious, as Harris

sat out Monday and Tuesday mainly for a precaution.

“If anything it was a little bit of extra rest for me,” said

Harris, who fought off illness to score a season-high 23 points,

leading to the win over Pacific Saturday.

Against Cal Poly (12-12, 8-7), Harris held Shane Schilling to six

points. Schilling, Cal Poly’s junior forward had scored 20 points in

each of the past two games and is averaging 14 points per game.

Harris virtually led the Anteaters to the victory, yet Adam Parada

(14 points), Mike Hood (13 points) and Gloger (12 points, eight rebounds and four steals) also figured largely to provide UCI with

its season-high seventh-straight win.

UCI, which is seeking its third straight Big West regular-season

title, has two games remaining, including a duel with UC Santa

Barbara. The Gauchos are a half-game behind the ‘Eaters.

“Our kids played hard,” Douglass said. “I was really proud.”

Douglass was impressed with his squad’s defense in a somewhat

atrocious game that featured 46 fouls and low-percentage shooting

from both teams. UCI shot 38% (18 of 47), while Cal Poly finished 35%

(19 of 54). The Mustangs committed 20 turnovers and the Anteaters had

15 turnovers.

Douglass started sophomore Greg Ethington in place of junior

forward Stanislav Zuzak because Zuzak had a bruised heel problem.

Douglass said Zuzak has been dealing with that all season. Zuzak came

off the bench to score seven points and he also drew Cal Poly junior

Varnie Dennis to pick up his fourth foul with 13:23 left in the game.

Dennis, who had said UCI’s frontcourt was not physical after Cal

Poly won in Irvine last month, scored a game-high 21 points. Coach

Douglass did not respond to Dennis’ comments Wednesday, saying only,

“This was a big game for us.”

Harris also downplayed UCI’s frontcourt play that essentially

quieted Cal Poly.

“I’m not one to go through newspapers and talk about that,” Harris

said.

“That’s what he thinks. Oh well. For what it’s worth, we got this

win.”

Harris scored 11 of his 18 points in the first half, after UCI

overcame a bumpy start to take a 30-26 lead at halftime.

UCI, which trailed 6-0 in the first four minutes, went on a 12-2

run that lasted seven minutes to gain a 28-22 lead. Hood, who

finished 8 for 8 from the foul line, drained two free throws to give

the ‘Eaters their first lead, 20-18.

In the second half, UCI built its biggest leads of the game, with

the credit going to Gloger. The redshirt freshman grabbed one of his

three offensive rebounds and was fouled on the putback. He converted

the three-point play for a 51-41 lead with 8:50 remaining.

Gloger recorded another offensive rebound and quickly threw up a

straight-away bank shot in the paint to give UCI a 55-44 lead with

6:39 left. However, Cal Poly answered with a 9-0 run and cut the

deficit to, 55-53, after Steve Geary drove the lane and swished in a

running jumper with 3:41 left.

Down the stretch, UCI junior forward Matt Okoro made two free

throws for a 61-54 lead with 1:28 left. Then, the Mustangs answered

with two free throws by Dennis and three-pointer by Jason Allen with

55 seconds remaining to bring Cal Poly to within, 61-59.

A 92% free-throw shooter, Hood drained his foul shots to clinch

it.