‘Eaters dump CSUN

IRVINE — Blackout Night turned into a blowout Wednesday in front of 3,450 mostly black-clad spectators at the Bren Events Center, as well as a national television audience on ESPNU.

And the team on the better side of the lopsided score, 73-51, might surprise a few people, as the host Anteaters dismantled a Cal State Northridge team that came in leading the Big West Conference.

“This score will probably give some people a double-take,” said UCI Coach Pat Douglass, who savored the win and the atmosphere.

That atmosphere included a first-half timeout tribute to Jerry Green, the program’s all-time leading scorer whom Douglass said built the program by leading it to back-to-back regular-season conference titles in 2001 and 2002.

“It was a fun night,” said Douglass, whose team avenged a 19-point loss at Northridge on Jan. 24 by displaying effectiveness at both ends of the floor. “To be on ESPN and have the students turn out in black ... I told our players it is a game they can remember.”

There was, to be sure, more to remember than Green’s legacy.

Senior guard Brett Lauer made all five of his three-point attempts in the opening half and the hosts (9-17, 6-7 in conference) were seven of 10 from three-point range on their way to a 41-25 intermission lead.

The second half, however, belonged to freshman Eric Wise, who scored 16 of his 18 points after the break, single-handedly, it seemed, keeping the Matadors (12-11, 8-4) at bay.

The UCI lead climbed to 28 in the second half, when its defense was every bit the envy of a Northridge squad that had made taking opponents out of their offensive flow the norm during the six-game winning streak it brought into the contest.

“The ability to take care of the ball against them was a key,” Douglass said. “To have 14 turnovers against their pressure is not too bad.”

UCI helped force 23 turnovers and held Northridge to 35.8% shooting from the field (19 for 53), including just four of 16 from threedom.

UCI, which ended a three-game losing streak, finished nine of 16 from beyond the arc (56.3%) and produced assists on 12 of its 23 field goals.

The Anteaters, who were out-rebounded, 22-13, in the first half, closed the deficit in that department to 37-33 by game’s end.

Wise, who was eight of 10 from the foul line, had a team-high nine rebounds, while adding three steals and two blocked shots.

“Eric had an exceptional second half,” Douglass said. “He really stepped up.”

Joining Wise and Lauer in double figures were guards Michael Hunter and Patrick Rembert, both of whom had 13 points.

Rembert added six assists and four rebounds while Hunter chipped in five steals.

Senior Kevin Bland had eight rebounds, three assists and one steal to offset a subpar scoring night (two points).

Freshman Derrick Strings had seven points to top a bench unit that earned praise from Douglass.

Rodrigue Mels came off the bench to lead the Matadors with 10 points. Northridge is playing without two of its top players, as Deon Tresvant is sidelined by legal troubles and Josh Jenkins may by out for the season with internal injuries sustained in a car accident Saturday.

“I thought we played hard,” Douglass said. “They’re a very difficult team for us to guard. They’re very athletic and have good overall size. Defensively, we played as hard we could play.”

The win put UCI three games up on ninth place Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with three regular season conference games remaining. And UCI owns the tiebreaker advantage against the Mustangs, having swept their two conference games.

“I don’t know if [the win] gets us going, but it sure as heck helps,” Douglass said. “You’ve got to win a couple games every once in a while just to keep your enthusiasm. This game really came at an opportune time for us, as we go through a tough portion of our league schedule. It was a special night for us.”

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 73, Cal State Northridge 51

CSUN – Cordell 3, Daniels 9, Townsend 4, Hill 5, Haynes 7, Mels 10, Galick 7, Taylor 4, Crawford 2.

3-pt. goals – Cordell 1, Hill 1, Haynes 1, Mels 1.

Fouled out – None.

UCI – Wise 20, Bland 2, Hunter 13, Rembert 13, Lauer 15, DeCasas 2, Strings 7, Atkinson 1.

3-pt. goals – Lauer 5, Hunter 2, Rembert 1, Strings 1.

Fouled out – None.

Halftime: UCI, 41-25.

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