‘Eaters wrap up fifth spot

BREN EVENTS CENTER -- Contrary to the more familiar quotation

attributed to Leo Durocher, nice guys also finish fifth.

Greg Ethington, UC Irvine’s lone senior, who is noted among his

teammates and coaches for his consistent geniality, made sure the

Anteaters did exactly that in the Big West Conference men’s

basketball race this week.

The 6-foot-8 center followed his first double-double of the season

in Thursday’s home win over UC Santa Barbara with 21 points, 10

rebounds and at least double-figure ovations, to pace a 79-49

conference victory over visiting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Saturday

before 2,046 on Senior Night.

The win, combined with UCSB’s loss at Long Beach State, gave the

Anteaters (15-12, 8-10 in conference), sole possession of fifth

place. UCSB and Long Beach State finished tied for sixth, one game

back.

UCI will meet eighth-place Idaho in the first round of the

conference tournament Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention

Center.

“Ethington, who just might be the Anteaters’ lone representative

on the all-conference team, had 15 points and nine boards at

halftime, helping build a 45-21 lead.

Ethington hit both field-goal tries and both free-throw attempts

after halftime, but played just six of the final 20 minutes. He was 7

of 11 from the field, including his fifth three-pointer of the

season, and was 6 of 8 from the foul line.

His final exit in his last home game came with 6:38 left. It was

marked by waves to the student rooters, handshakes and pats on the

back by his coaches and high fives with his teammates.

“Greg really fired out,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said. “He had an

exceptional second half of league play. As our only senior, he has

had a big load to carry. But he’s done a good job.”

Ethington averaged 16.3 points and 6.7 rebounds the last seven

conference games and his 6.2 season rebounding average leads the

team. He has averaged 12.6 points, second on the team, and is the

only player to start all 27 games.

He credited assistant Tod Murphy, UCI’s No. 2 all-time scorer and

an NBA veteran, for helping him improve in all facets of his game as

a collegian.

“[Murphy] has been so important to my development the last three

years,” Ethington said. “He has helped me offensively, defensively,

with my attitude, the whole thing.”

Ethington displayed his myriad offensive skills, netting jump

hooks with both hands, backing defenders down, facing up to both

drive and pass, and knocking down outside jumpers.

“It definitely feels good to finish the season like this,”

Ethington said, when asked of his individual success. “It was fun out

there. That’s what you want on your last night.”

Douglass also delivered credit to his team for attacking the

last-place Mustangs with intensity after the ‘Eaters had clinched a

tournament berth Thursday.

That intensity proved too much for the visitors (5-22, 3-15), who

trailed by as many as 34.

The 30-point margin was UCI’s biggest conference triumph in two

seasons and its most lopsided victory since a 106-69 season-opening

thrashing of visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Nic Campbell matched his career high with 11 points, while Patrick

Sanders scored a career-high nine off the bench.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 79,

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 49

Cal Poly -- Enzweiler 2, Lisinac 11, Titchenal 8, Whiten 14, Jones

5, McGinn 4, Socci 3, Henry 2.

3-pt. goals -- Whiten 2, Jones 1.

UC Irvine -- Campbell 11, Gloger 6, Ethington 21, Schraeder 7,

Fitzgerald 4, Armstrong 9, Sanders 9, Fells 7, Baker 3, Metelski 2.

3-pt. goals -- Cambell 1, Ethington 1, Schraeder 1, Armstrong 1,

Baker 1.

Halftime -- UC Irvine, 45-21.