‘Eaters shocked at home

Cal State Stanislaus uses quickness, three-point shooting to hand UCI its first loss to a Division II school in 26 seasons.IRVINE -- Just 10 days after they played the role of giant killers, UC Irvine men’s basketball players and coaches were taken down a few pegs Tuesday by Division II Cal State Stanislaus.

The Warriors (3-0) built a 16-point lead late in the first half, led, 57-46, at halftime, then survived a late surge by the hosts to earn a 91-90 nonconference win.

It was UCI’s first loss to a Division II school since falling to Assumption College of Massachusetts, 67-65, in December of 1979.

The Anteaters (3-3) are now 1-2 since stunning No. 13-ranked Stanford, 79-63, Nov. 19 at Maples Pavilion.

“This is the biggest win of my career,” said third-year Stanislaus Coach Keith Larsen, whose players cavorted joyfully after the final horn sounded. “This was the first time we’ve broadcast a game on the Internet back home and this is obviously good news for our school. The little town of Turlock [near Modesto] will be pretty happy [this] morning.”

A handful of Warriors ran toward midcourt, tugging at the upper front corners of their jerseys to display the word “Stanislaus” to the vocal UCI student rooting section.

Stanislaus, which started no player taller than 6-foot-5 and made 13 of 33 three-point tries on the way to shooting 48.8% from the field (32 of 66), had plenty to celebrate.

“[The Warriors] outplayed us,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said. “They got to the loose balls and we didn’t. They were quicker than us and we couldn’t handle their dribble penetration. And they shot the three well.

“We came out in the second half and did a pretty good job of getting back in the game, but we never could finish it.”

The Anteaters, who whittled a 35-point second-half deficit in Saturday’s 79-76 loss at Pepperdine, turned up their defensive intensity and inside scoring to briefly overtake the visitors after halftime.

UCI shot 58.6% from the field for the game (34 of 58) and scored 28 of its 44 second-half points in the paint.

UCI’s Darren Fells, a 6-7 sophomore center, converted Dustin Price’s pass into a layup with 5:02 left to give the ‘Eaters a 79-78 advantage. It was UCI’s first lead since 2-0.

The Warriors regained the lead, but UCI answered and the score was tied at 81, 83 and 85, before UCI’s Ross Schraeder sank a three-pointer from the left corner with 1:42 left.

But Stanislaus, which took 81 three-point attempts in its first two wins, answered 10 seconds later with a three-pointer by Kyle Mason to make it 88-88.

Joel Stallworth beat Fells off the dribble for a layup to put the visitors ahead with 29 seconds left, but Fells -- who had 20 points and 13 rebounds -- followed his own miss to knot it again with eight seconds left.

Fells was called for a blocking foul with four seconds left and Calvert Wright converted the first free throw for the winning margin.

Wright, who scored 20 points, then snatched the long rebound of the second foul shot to complete the upset.

Fells said he was disappointed the deciding blocking call was not ruled a charge and Douglass said it was the type of call that usually goes to the home team.

“We got some good calls down the stretch, but that’s basketball,” Larsen said.

Stanislaus made 14 of 16 foul shots, while UCI made 14 of 22.

Nonconference

Cal State Stanislaus 91,

UC Irvine 90

Score by Halves