UCI routs Aggies

IRVINE — Saturday night was about reopenings for the UC Irvine men’s basketball team, which broke the seal on the moderately renovated Bren Events Center.

But, just as the Anteaters did when they opened the Bren for the first time — posting a 22-point victory over visiting Utah State on Jan. 8, 1987 — the hosts opened up a can of whoop- ... well, one might just say the visiting Aggies were out of it late in the opening half.

UCI finished with a 70-51 triumph Saturday, using a 14-0 run that swelled to 23-2 late in the first half to overwhelm its former Big West Conference rival.

Down, 22-12, after missing nine straight field-goal tries and going 10:04 without a field goal, junior reserve guard Brett Lauer made a three-pointer to spark a dominant UCI run.

Three-pointers by Kevin Bland, Chuma Awaji, Michael Hunter and Lauer again helped produce a 35-24 UCI lead in a span of just less than five minutes.

And, after Utah State (2-3), which represented the Big West nine times in the NCAA Tournament from 1979 to 2005, closed a 35-25 halftime deficit to within 44-38 with 11:37 left in the game, a Lauer three-pointer sparked a 13-0 Anteater assault that created another huge cushion. And UCI coasted home to improve to 2-1 and take some much-needed confidence into Thursday’s game against Mississippi State in the first round of the eight-team Anaheim Classic, at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Utah State was picked by coaches to win the Western Athletic Conference this season.

Bland, a junior post, had 15 points, eight rebounds and five steals, all of which led the Anteaters.

Bland made five of six field-goal tries. His only miss was his opening shot of the night, which was blocked. Bland, who made his only three-pointer, was also four of four from the line, to help the Anteaters net all 10 of their foul shots.

Lauer, a JC transfer, was four of six from three-point range and finished with 14 points, while senior Chuma Awaji, also came off the bench to add 14 points, including six free throws.

Sophomore point guard Michael Hunter chipped in five points, a game-high six assists and three steals, while committing just one turnover. His energy, like that of Lauer, Awaji and Bland, were constants in the hosts’ best win of the young season.

“We got down [by eight] and I thought we showed a lot of heart,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said. “We moved it up a notch. We talked about playing more possessions and being able to knuckle down, and I really liked our effort. I thought we played with great effort an enthusiasm. We got help from Chuma Awaji and Brett Lauer, who came off the bench and gave us some energy ... It’s as good an effort as we’ve had, at times, here, so it was fun to watch.”

Junior starter Adam Rodenberg made four of five from the field to produce eight points, before fouling out having played 28 minutes.

Senior Darren Fells, coming off a two-game suspension, had four points in 13 minutes.

Nonconference

UC Irvine 70, Utah State 51

USU – Wilkinson 7, DuCharme 9, Carroll 21, Clark 3, Williams 3, Wesley 4, Stephens 2, Newbold 2.

3-pt. goals – Carroll 4, Williams 1, Wilkinson 1.

UCI – Rodenberg 8, Sanders 2, Bland 15, DeCasas 6, Hunter 5, Awaji 14, Lauer 14, Fells 4, Harris 2.

3-pt. goals – Lauer 4, Awaji 2, Hunter 1, Bland 1. Fouled out - Rodenberg.

Halftime – UCI, 35-25.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.