‘Eaters bow out in Big West quarters

Barry Faulkner

A season of change and uncertainty ended predictably Thursday night

for the UC Irvine men’s basketball team in a 72-56 loss to Cal State

Northridge in the Big West Conference tournament quarterfinals at the

Anaheim Convention Center.

The Anteaters (16-13), who lost eight lettermen from the 2003-04

squad that finished a disappointing 11-17, welcomed seven new faces

this season and boasted only one senior, 6-foot-8 center Greg

Ethington.

Their preconference season included a five-game winning streak,

but a lack of athleticism and the inability to sustain the

free-wheeling, up-tempo style of play that seemed to suit them best,

cost them a chance to achieve consistent success in conference play.

They did finish fifth in conference, two spots higher than they

were projected by media and coaches in preseason polls. But including

Thursday’s loss, their third in as many meetings with the Matadors,

UCI was 1-8 against the top four teams in the Big West.

The exception to that rule was a 97-81 victory at Cal State

Fullerton Jan. 15, when the ‘Eaters shot 58.9% from the field in

what, most would agree, was their best game of the season.

They were clearly outclassed in most of their losses, suffering

their 13 defeats by an average of 14.7 points/ Only three of their

setbacks were by fewer than 10 points.

Northridge threatened to run away from the start Thursday,

building a 7-0 lead that swelled to 16-5, before UCI scored eight

straight to get back in it.

A 7-0 Anteater run later in the half helped them shave the deficit

even more, before a Ross Schraeder three-pointer knotted the game,

23-23, with 7:27 left in the first half.

But Joseph Frazier, who led the Matadors with 18 points, one shy

of his season high, answered with an 18-foot jumper 24 seconds later

and Northridge led the rest of the way.

The Matadors increased a 35-30 halftime cushion with a 6-1 run to

open the second 20 minutes.

Irvine twice closed to within five, the latter after two Jeff

Gloger free throws with 10:09 left. But Northridge, whose swarming

defense was again a factor, despite forcing only 13 turnovers, was

able to execute offensively down the stretch to pull away and advance

to tonight’s semifinal against conference champion University of the

Pacific.

Gloger was a highlight for UCI, collecting 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. He did not have a turnover in

36 minutes. Gloger was 10 of 17 from the foul line.

Schraeder also had 14 points, including four three-pointers, but

was 5 of 13 from the field.

Ethington, who played just six minutes in the first half due to

foul trouble, finished his final game as a collegian with five points

and three rebounds. He fouled out with 1:27 left and was visibly

overcome with emotion on the bench.

UCI junior point guard Aaron Fitzgerald, who scored a career-high

30 points in the opening-round win over Idaho, also fouled out with

five points, four rebounds, two assists and five turnovers. He was

clearly frustrated by Northridge’s aggressive pressure defense.

“I thought Irvine played a heck of a game and played hard,”

Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said. “They didn’t make it easy for

us at all. We had a great start, especially defensively, but they

hung in there and made it tough for us.” Irvine was 16 of 48 from the

field (33.3%) and 18 of 27 from the foul line.

Northridge made 23 of its 29 foul shots (79.3%).

“I think we took a major step this season,” Douglass said. “I hope

we can continue to make progress next season.” Junior Shamar

Armstrong chipped in nine points for the Anteaters.

Senior Ian Boylan, the Most Valuable Player in last year’s

conference tournament when Northridge lost to Pacific in the title

game, had 16 points.

Davin White added 10 points for the Matadors.

Douglass completed his eighth season and brought the Anteaters

back to the conference tournament this season after a one-year

absence.

Big West Conference tournament

Quarterfinal

Cal State Northridge 72

UC Irvine 56

UC Irvine - Gloger 14, Campbell 2, Ethington 5, Schraeder 14,

Fitzgerald 5, Fells 5, Metelski 2, Armstrong 9.

3-pt. goals - Schaeder 4, Fitzgerald 1, Armstrong 1.

Fouled out - Fitzgerald, Ethington.

Technicals - None.

Cal State Northridge - Heard 9, Boylan 16, Waggener 2, White 10,

Frazier 18, Onyenagecha 4, Shewmake 6, Chitwood 5.

3-pt. goals - Frazier 3, Boylan 1, Shewmake 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Halftime - Cal State Northridge, 35-30.