UCI paired against New Mexico State
The UC Irvine men’s basketball team will visit former Big West
Conference rival New Mexico State as part of Bracket Buster Saturday,
Feb. 21, it was announced Monday.
The event features 46 mid-major schools from 11 conferences.
Before the season, it might have been viewed as a chance for the
Anteaters, coming off three straight 20-win seasons and two NIT
appearances in the last three years, to impress the NCAA tournament
selection committee. Now, however, it pits a pair of teams currently
with .500 records, both fighting to stay in the top half of their
respective conference standings. Tipoff is set for 2:05 p.m.
New Mexico State (9-9, 3-4 in the Sun Belt Conference, where it is
tied for fourth in the Western Division), competed in the Big West
from 1983-2000. The Aggies are coached by 72-year-old Lou Henson, who
had 762 career wins in 41 seasons, 16 in Las Cruces, through Monday.
The Aggies have won 26 of 33 previous meetings with UCI, all
conference games. The Aggies’ last meeting with UCI was a 70-51
victory in the quarterfinals of the 2000 Big West tournament.
UCI (9-9, 4-5 in conference), is tied for fourth in the Big West
with Long Beach State, after three straight conference losses, all on
the road.
The Anteaters, the lone Big West representative in the Bracket
Buster event, will have five games to try to build some momentum
heading into Las Cruces, where they are 2-13 against the Aggies.
UCI, led by 7-foot senior Adam Parada, who averages a team-high
13.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, plays host to the University of the
Pacific, Thursday at 7:05 p.m., and Cal State Northridge, Saturday at
7:35 p.m.
The Aggies and Anteaters share only one common opponent this
season.
New Mexico State lost at Utah State, 73-57, Dec. 30, while the
‘Eaters fell, 57-48, in Logan Thursday.
New Mexico State is 6-3 at the Pan American Center this season,
while the Anteaters are 1-6 in games played on their opponent’s floor
this season.
New Mexico State is led by senior forward James Moore, who
averages 15.1 points and 6.6 boards.
-- Barry Faulkner
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