‘Eaters falter once again

Clark’s second-half heroics lead Cal Poly SLO past UCI to drop Anteaters into second place in the Big West.IRVINE -- Neither the biggest home crowd of the season, nor the benefit of experience seemed to count for much for the UC Irvine men’s basketball team Saturday.

Though it had been just 48 hours since they had failed to produce a shot in a last-second comeback attempt, the Anteaters weren’t much better against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

But Cal Poly freshman Trae Clark, whom Mustangs Coach Kevin Bromley said had not been called upon at crunch time all season, didn’t appear fazed by any unfamiliarity.

Clark made four of the Mustangs’ final five field goals, as well as the visitors’ last six points, to help produce a 61-58 Big West Conference win that dropped UCI (13-11, 9-3 in conference) into second place, percentage points behind Pacific (8-2 in conference).

Clark knocked down a 12-foot jumper to tie the score at 57-all, before Darren Fells’ free throw put UCI ahead, 58-57, with 51 seconds left.

But Clark, who finished with 15 points -- two shy of his collegiate high established Jan. 7 against UCI -- then connected on an eight-foot floater with 40 seconds left for a 59-58 Cal Poly lead.

UCI senior point guard Aaron Fitzgerald, who was double-teamed and had a pass deflected as time expired in a 60-59 home loss to UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, was again called upon.

UCI Coach Pat Douglass called his team’s final timeout after Fells was trapped in a double-team down low with 32 seconds left.

Douglass called for a clear-out for Fitzgerald, who slipped to his knees while dribbling toward the baseline. Fitzgerald quickly sprang to his feet and shot a 14-footer, but Gabe Stephenson blocked the shot and Cal Poly rebounded.

Clark was fouled with five seconds left and made both free throws in the double bonus.

This time, Fitzgerald encountered defensive pressure just beyond the midcourt line and passed to freshman Adam Templeton, who fired up a 27-foot desperation three-point try that went off the side of the rim.

Fitzgerald said the team spent extra time in Friday’s practice going over last-shot opportunities.

“The difference in the game was the play of Trae Clark,” said Douglass, whose team fell to 5-5 at home and has now lost three of its last four Big West games.

“We hoped to hold serve at home this week, but that didn’t happen,” Douglass said. “It’s tough to win titles when you lose games at home.

“At least we passed to get a shot up [on the last possession]. That was better than the other night,” Douglass said.

Cal Poly improved to 7-14, 5-4.

Big West Conference

Cal Poly SLO 61, UC Irvine 58

Score by Halves