McIntosh sparks UCI

IRVINE — UC Irvine senior reserve Marcus McIntosh is headed back to Texas, as the Anteaters begin a four-game road trip that will complete their pre-Big West Conference schedule.

And after the Texas A&M; transfer’s play in a 72-59 nonconference home win Saturday against San Francisco, he’ll have something to boast about to his former Aggies teammates when UCI visits College Station on Saturday.

McIntosh scored a career-high 11 points to become one of five Anteaters in double figures, and paced the team with three assists. But for a true measure of the 6-foot-1 guard’s contribution to UCI’s first win over USF in seven meetings, one had to look beyond the box score.

“We looked a little sluggish,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said of the first 11 minutes, after which the hosts trailed, 24-13. “We had finals this week. But I thought the guys kicked it in. I was pleased with Marcus McIntosh, who had a good solid game. I thought he brought some intensity into the game.”

McIntosh fed Chuma Awaji for a layup that started a 16-0 Anteaters’ run that left them on top, 29-24, with 4:47 left in the first half. McIntosh scored a transition layup during the burst and was part of a defensive surge that forced four Dons turnovers in the nearly four minutes of the surge.

“I just want to give a spark,” said McIntosh, who started three games early last season, then was largely relegated to the bench, averaging 3.0 points in 29 games. “I think I can give us more of a defensive presence and more energy. I try to get the guys going if we’re down, and even if we’re up. I try to play defense and just bring positive energy.”

Mission accomplished against USF (4-6), which rallied to claim leads of 44-43 and 46-45, before UCI senior forward Patrick Sanders followed a 16-foot jumper with a putback dunk, the latter with 9:21 remaining, to help the Anteaters gain control for good.

McIntosh drained all six of his free throws in the final 5:57 to help UCI win its second straight and improve to 4-5. He finished two of four from the field and seven of eight from the foul line and added two steals in 18 minutes.

UCI is unbeaten in its three games this season in the Bren Events Center, where 1,104 were on hand for Douglass’ 300th game at the UCI helm.

After Michael Hunter’s three-pointer, the last of just three conversions in 22 tries beyond the arc (13.6%) for UCI, the ’Eaters scored just two field goals the rest of the way. Both of those were strong post moves provided by 6-7 senior center Darren Fells, who finished with 14 points on six-of-eight shooting.

Kevin Bland, a 6-8 junior forward, contributed 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the winners, who received 12 points and seven boards from Sanders and 11 points from junior guard Brett Lauer.

It was the second double-digit rebound performance for Bland, who along with Fells is helping overcome the loss of 6-8 junior Adam Rodenberg, who sustained a season-ending hernia and has since left the program.

“Bland had a good night on the boards and I thought Fells was a major force inside,” said Douglass, who also credited Fells for limiting Dons scoring leader Dior Lowhorn, who came in averaging 22.8 points per game, to just two of his 12 points after halftime.

“We did a good job on [Lowhorn],” Douglass said.

USF wound up shooting 49% from the field, but its 21 turnovers were four more than UCI committed.

Junior guard Manny Quezada, who was nine of 16 from the field, led the Dons with 20 points.

UCI, which came in second in the Big West in free-throw shooting (75%), made just 23 of 37 to slip to 71.8% for the season. UCI did make eight of its last 10, however.

McIntosh said he is looking forward to the trip to Texas, which begins Thursday with a date at Sam Houston State. UCI will then venture to Texas A&M;, where McIntosh began his collegiate career out of Eaglecrest High in Aurora, Colo.

“I am [looking forward to returning to Texas],” McIntosh said. “I’m familiar with Texas A&M; and I’m looking forward to that game. I still know a couple guys on that team.”

Nonconference

UC Irvine 72, San Francisco 59

USF – Taylor 2, Cavic 5, Lowhorn 12, Quezada 20, Strong 11, Morgan 6, Zamorano 3.

3-pt. goals – Quezada 1, Strong, Cavic 1, Zamorano 1.

Fouled out – Strong, Cavic, Hernandez.

UCI– Sanders 12, Bland 14, Fells 14, Lauer 10, Hunter 8, McIntosh 11, Awaji 2, Harris 1.

3-pt. goals – Hunter 2, Lauer 1.

Fouled out - Hunter.

Technicals - None.

Halftime – UCI, 34-29.

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