Going out with a bang

Steve Virgen

Jordan Harris had the type of night most college seniors dream of

when playing in their final home game. He played with aggression. He

did it with style and he did it with emotion. Along the way, Mike

Hood, UCI’s only other senior, got in on the act, revived his outside

shooting and also completed a memorable performance.

The two seniors were a part of UCI’s night when the Anteaters

displayed their full potential in defeating Long Beach State, 95-60,

in front of a season-high capacity crowd of 5,000 fans at the Bren

Events Center Saturday.

Harris matched his season-high with 23 points, on 10-of-13

shooting from the field, while Hood added 14 points, including 3 of 5

from beyond the three-point line. Adam Parada, UCI’s 7-foot junior

center, perhaps performing the best he has during the conference

season, led the ‘Eaters with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

“I don’t think it gets any better than that,” Harris said. “It was

a good night. It wasn’t a storybook ending. It’s not storybook until

we get to the NCAA Tournament. If we play like we did tonight there’s

no reason why we can’t do it (reach the NCAA tourney).”

The Anteaters finished the regular season, 19-8, 13-5 in the Big

West for second place. Playing as the No. 2 seed in the Big West

Tournament, UCI will face the seventh seed, Cal State Northridge,

Thursday night at 6 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The ‘Eaters, who won or shared the Big West regular-season title

the past two years, have lost in the conference tournament the past

two years, instead ending their season in the NIT.

UCI lost at Northridge, 69-63, Feb. 20, but defeated the Matadors,

64-57, at the Bren Feb. 20. That was when Hood dislocated a finger on

his shooting hand. In that game and the following three, he went 1

for 15 from behind the three-point line. The previous eight games to

his shooting slump Hood had hit 23 of his 35 three-pointers (.657),

and became one of the hottest shooters in the conference.

He scored the eventual game-winning basket in January wins over UC

Riverside, Utah State and University of the Pacific.

“It feels a lot better,” Hood said of the finger.

Douglass said the two seniors were instrumental in lifting the

Anteaters out of their three-game losing streak earlier in the

season. UCI responded to the skid with a seven-game winning streak.

The ‘Eaters won seven of their past eight games to close out the

season.

“Those two kids (Harris and Hood) really carried us,” said

Douglass, who was impressed with what his team accomplished this

season. “I don’t want to pat

myself on the back, but I think we had a good year. Nineteen wins.

A lot of people didn’t think we would win that many games without

Jerry (Green), and here we are with 19 wins.”

Douglass also said redshirt freshman point guard Jeff Gloger was

an important factor toward the team’s success this season. The UCI

Coach called his play a surprise and also thought he “handled himself

well,” throughout the season.

Gloger scored eight points and dished out five assists. He, just

as the rest of his teammates and the Anteater fans, applauded loudly

when UCI honored the two seniors after the game.

Harris reveled in the moment. Earlier, he left the game with 6:51

remaining and the Anteaters ahead, 82-46. Before he took his seat on

the bench, he gave Douglass a big, playful hug, as the two shared a

laugh.

“We wouldn’t be where we are right now if it wasn’t for Jordan,”

Douglass had said after UCI’s 68-62 victory over Cal Poly Feb. 27.

That statement also applied to Saturday night, when Harris scored

20 points in the first half, as UCI overcame a 26-17 deficit with a

9-0 run, then closed out the half with a 17-6 spurt to take a 43-35

lead.

Douglass said Harris’ leadership has also been important,

especially for UCI’s lone true freshman Mike Efevberha.

“I learned from (Harris) a routine and how to behave on the road,

and how to come prepared for every game,” said Efevberha, who is

Harris’ roommate during road games. “He was a mentor to me. He’s

meant a lot to this team.

When he’s ready to play, everyone else gets ready to play. He’s

been a catalyst for this team.”

The Anteaters opened the second half with a 26-2 run in a 6:07

span. Parada, who had his fifth double-double of the season, capped

the run and poured in 10 points in the scoring spurt.

“It’s a real confidence booster for me and the whole team,” Parada

said.

UCI led by as many as 39, twice, the latter coming after a

three-pointer by freshman Ross Schraeder that gave the Anteaters a

95-56 lead.

Long Beach State (5-22, 4-14) was led by Tony Darden and his

game-high 27 points, though the 49ers appeared to play lazy defense.

UCI had several buckets in transtion, which also featured dunks.

Douglass said UCI’s victory provided the Anteaters with momentum,

however, the tournament marks a start of a new season. He said the

Anteaters have a solid chance to win the tournament title and earn

the schools’ first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

“Any of the eight teams have a chance to win it,” Douglass said.

ZOTS -- UCI even honored senior Curtis Matzkind, a.k.a Mad Dog,

who is the president of the Completely Insane Anteaters. The CIA is

the group of fans who wear yellow shirts and are noted for their

unique cheers ... UCI is one victory away from achieving 20 wins for

the third-straight year, which would capitalize on their school

record.