‘Eaters’ last-second upset bid just misses

Barry Faulkner

On a night when 4,210 spectators at the Bren Events Center said

goodbye to the Anteater seniors, it was, perhaps, fitting they also

saw the rise of a sophomore star in Ross Schraeder.

Near the end of a disappointing season, some have already begun

looking to the UCI program’s future.

But even the heroics of Schraeder, who followed his career-high 27

points Thursday with a game-high 20 points, the hosts fell victim to

Big West Conference men’s basketball leader and No. 23-ranked Utah

State, 59-56.

Schraeder, who bounced back with 18 second-half points after going

0 for 6 from the field in the first 20 minutes -- all from beyond the

arc -- took the shot that could have sent the game to overtime in the

final second.

But the shot did not fall, leaving UCI (11-15, 6-10 in conference)

in a three-way tie for sixth place with just two regular-season games

remaining.

The last-second shot denied the Anteaters an upset of the Aggies,

who have now won 21 of their last 22 conference games.

The game that featured six ties, 10 lead changes and some rugged

defense from both teams, came down to free throws.

Utah State (24-2, 16-1) drained 15 of 20 after intermission and 18

of 25 for the game, while the ‘Eaters made just eight trips to the

foul line, converting five.

It was two uncharacteristic misses by Aggie senior point guard

Mark Brown with 15 seconds left that gave UCI its final chance.

UCI, under heavy defensive pressure in the frontcourt, called

timeout with 4.7 seconds left, then inbounded and got the ball to

Schraeder on the right wing. Closely guarded, he launched the shot

from about 22 feet, but was unrewarded.

Schraeder was 7 of 9 from the field in the second half, before his

final attempt and he scored the Anteaters’ final eight points,

including a pair of three balls.

His second three-pointer of the game gave UCI its final lead,

38-37, with 12:38 left in the half.

A Spencer Nelson three ball with 5:53 left upped the visitors’

lead to 53-45, but UCI battled to maintain the drama.

Senior Aras Baskauskas netted his first three-pointer of the

season and Schraeder found the bottom of the net from distance with

2:37 left to pull UCI within 54-51.

After one Aggie free throw, Schraeder dropped in a one-handed

runner on the baseline, while being fouled. He missed the subsequent

free throw and Brown converted at the other end with a four-foot

runner to up the lead to four.

After Baskauskas missed from three-point range, Brown sank two

foul shots with 48 ticks left, but another Schraeder three cut the

deficit to 59-56 with 34 seconds left.

UCI let 15 seconds elapse before fouling Brown, who led the

winners with 17 points.

Senior Stanislav Zuzak had 12 points, including two

three-pointers, and senior Adam Parada chipped in nine points and 10

rebounds in his final home game.

UCI outrebounded the Aggies, 28-20, including a 14-6 edge on

offensive boards. The ‘Eaters also committed just 11 turnovers,

equaling Utah State’s total, and shot 60.9% in the second half (14 of

23) to finish 44.9% for the game (22 of 49).

ZOTS -- Saturday’s telecast on ESPN2 marked the first time in 15

years ESPN visited the Bren Events Center. The last ESPN broadcast

from UCI was a 1989 game against Utah State, won by the Aggies,

95-94, in overtime ... UCI Coach Pat Douglass, in honor of senior

night, started seniors Adam Parada, Matt Okoro, Aras Baskauskas and

Stanislav Zuzak. It was the 10th different lineup of the season for

the Anteaters.

*--*

Big West Conference

Utah State 59, UC Irvine 56

Utah State - Harris 12, Williams 4, Nelson 14, Brown 17, Brown 8, Ahmad 2, McVey 1, Huber 1. 3-pt. goals - Nelson 2, Brown 2, Butler 1. UC Irvine - Zuzak 12, Okoro 2, Parada 9, Gloger 4, Baskauskas 3, Schraeder 20, Ethington 4, Hill 2. 3-pt. goal -

Schraeder 4, Zuzak 2, Baskauskas 1. Halftime - Utah State, 25-22.

*--*