Campbell good to his last shot for ‘Eaters

RIVERSIDE — Nic Campbell’s opening statement was as important as his closing argument in the UC Irvine men’s basketball team’s 66-61 Big West Conference victory at UC Riverside Wednesday night.

But for Campbell, one of the Anteaters’ two seniors facing what could be their last handful of collegiate games, it’s all crunch time now, and every verdict has a consequence.

Campbell, who scored the Anteaters’ first 11 points on his way to a season-high 19, drained a three-pointer with 33 seconds left to break a 59-59 tie, giving UCI an insurmountable lead, and an important and rare road victory.

“I was just trying not to think about it too much,” Campbell said of the critical three-pointer, created by a skip pass from freshman point guard Michael Hunter, who was also key down the stretch for UCI (12-15, 6-7 in conference). “We were trying to get it inside and the defense collapsed a little, leaving me open outside.”

Campbell made the Highlanders (5-20, 1-10) pay and Hunter, who had just one field-goal attempt all night, made dividends of four free-throw attempts in the final 25.5 to help the Anteaters stay alive for a possible top-four finish in conference, which would give them a first-round bye in the Big West tournament, March 7-10.

“I talked to the guys before the game [in the locker room] and I told them it’s crunch time now,” Campbell said. “I told them it was mine and [senior] Mark Kelley’s last go-round. We’re trying to get the fourth seed, because anything can happen on a neutral [tournament] court.”

Good things have seldom happened on an opponents’ court for UCI this season. The ‘Eaters are now 3-11 when facing opponents at their venue and 4-13 away from Bren Events Center.

Campbell, whom Patrick Sanders called the team’s senior leader, has put aside a nagging back ailment to contribute as much as he can. The injury forced him to miss the first nine games this season and has left him behind physically the whole campaign. It has sidelined him for some practice sessions, UCI Coach Pat Douglass said.

“Having missed so much time early, my legs haven’t been there for me this year,” Campbell said. “A shooter without fresh legs can struggle, but a shooter with poise and nerve can carry a team on his back with a crucial conversion or two.”

Campbell’s three-pointer near the top of the key with 4:37 left forged a 55-55 tie after Riverside junior Larry Cunningham dunked following his own steal near midcourt to turn on the modest home crowd of 684.

Just as important as Campbell’s offensive contribution was — he was six of 10 from the field, three of six from threedom, four for four from the foul line and four of his six rebounds came at the offensive end — the 6-6 Australian also stood out on defense.

After his three-pointer pulled the visitors even at 55-55, a switch left him with the defensive assignment of having to check the explosive Cunningham, who was breaking down defenders and driving to the basket all night.

On this particular possession, however, Campbell kept Cunningham (a game-high 21 points) in front of him, until Cunningham veered away from the basket on a drive and threw up an awkward shot that missed.

Sanders, who continues to justify his go-to-guy status in recent weeks with 19 points of his own — he has averaged 18.6 points his last five games — scored on a baseline layin on UCI’s next possession.

Sanders collected one of his game-high 10 rebounds on UCR’s subsequent possession, then answered a Riverside basket with an eight-foot floater in the lane that put UCI up, 59-57.

Riverside senior guard Justin Bell scored the final two of his 19 points on a 17-foot jumper to knot things at 59-59 with 1:22 left, but UCI had more plays left for the final 80 seconds.

“Nic Campbell’s [final] bucket was obviously a big bucket,” said Douglass, who collected his 150th win in his 10th season at the Anteaters’ helm. “And for Michael Hunter to go to the line and make four free throws … I was really pleased with the way we gutted it out at their place.”

Douglass also praised junior Darren Fells, who didn’t start after missing practice this week with the flu, but played nearly the entire second half. Fells was five for seven from the field and four for four from the line on his way to 14 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes.

Adam Templeton had eight rebounds to help UCI post a 49-28 edge in that department.

UCI, with just one regular-season conference game remaining (March 1 at first-place Long Beach State), is sixth in conference, behind both Pacific and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, who are both 5-5 in the Big West.

Big West ConferenceUC Irvine -- Hunter 4, Awaji 2, Campbell 19, Kelley 3, Sanders 19, Fells 14, Templeton 3, DeCasas 2.

UC Irvine 66, UC Riverside 61

3-pt. goals -- Campbell 3, Templeton 1.

UC Riverside -- Thomsen 8, Soto 6, Bell 19, Bates 5, Cunningham 21, Jim-George 2.

3-pt. goals -- Thomsen 2, Bell 2, Bates 1.

Fouled out -- Soto.

Halftime -- 33-27, UCI.