Anteaters caught from behind again

COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the fifth time in its last six losses, the UC Irvine men’s basketball team blew a second-half lead in falling, 67-63, to host South Carolina before 10,569 Friday night at the Colonial Center.

The Anteaters, paced by 20 points apiece from senior center Darren Fells and senior forward Patrick Sanders, opened the second half with an 8-2 run to open a 44-31 cushion.

But, like a 71-59 advantage against Chatanooga (Nov. 23) and a 56-43 edge at Utah (Dec. 1), Coach Pat Douglass’ squad (4-8) failed to hold off the opponent. UCI also led after intermission in losses to San Diego (Nov. 25) and Sam Houston State (Dec. 20).

South Carolina (7-5) pulled even at 53-53 with 6:24 left, then took the lead for good when Devan Downey sank a pair of free throws with 1:15 remaining to break a 60-60 deadlock.

Two more Downey free throws put the hosts up, 64-60, with 20 seconds remaining, but UCI junior guard Brett Lauer sank a three-pointer with 15 seconds left to trim the deficit to one.

Lauer fouled three seconds into the Gamecocks’ next possession and Downey, once again, netted both foul shots to produce a 66-63 lead.

UCI sophomore point guard Michael Hunter missed a three-point try with six seconds left and Dominique Archie converted one of two free throws with five ticks remaining to hold the Anteaters off.

Hunter scored on a layin with time expiring, leaving UCI with its third consecutive 4-8 start. Its worst start under Douglass, a 3-8 mark, came in Douglass’ first season at the helm in 1997-98.

“We had some opportunities tonight, but we just couldn’t put it all together,” Douglass said after Friday’s game. “We have had a tough road stretch and would have liked to have had this win.”

Fells was nine of 14 from the field and added six rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Sanders, who made three of his four three-point attempts, was seven for 14 from the field. He had four rebounds, four turnovers and three assists.

Junior forward Kevin Bland had 11 rebounds to go with his two points and career-high six assists.

Lauer had 12 points, half of which he produced on three-pointers, and a career-high six rebounds.

UCI made just nine of 26 field-goal attempts in the second half (34.6%) to finish 25 of 61 for the game (41%).

South Carolina made 12 of 25 second-half field-goal tries, including three of eight from three-point range. It finished 25 of 52 for the game (48.1%) from the field.

South Carolina won the rebounding battle, 36-33, though UCI collected 10 offensive boards to just six by the hosts.

UCI will try to rebound Sunday, when it visits Harvard (4-10) at 11 a.m.

— From staff reports

Nonconference

South Carolina 67, UC Irvine 65

UCI – Sanders 20, Bland 2, Fells 20, Lauer 12, Harris 5, Hunter 6.

3-pt. goals – Sanders 3, Lauer 2.

SC – Holmes 10, Archie 18, Downey 17, Fredrick 9, Raley-Ross 0, Gray 9, Muldrow 4.

3-pt. goals – Downey 1, Archie 1, Fredrick 1.

Halftime – UCI, 36-29.