Moore enough for UCI

IRVINE — With 12:49 left in the game, a brief physical skirmish broke out between players from both teams that resulted in a pair of technical fouls.

But for the UC Irvine men’s basketball program, which had lost four straight and seven of its last eight, including a 13-point nonconference setback at Cal State Bakersfield Wednesday, push had come to shove well before tipoff of Saturday’s rematch with the Roadrunners at the Bren Events Center.

The result was an inspired effort that produced a 76-63 triumph for the Anteaters.

“It was a tough loss,” UCI junior guard Darren Moore said of Wednesday’s 68-55 defeat at Bakersfield. “I think that was a loss that hurt everybody in the locker room and motivated us to come out today and prove that we should have beaten that team the fist time.”

Moore appeared particularly motivated, as he was very active on both ends of the floor from the outset.

“I thought Darren Moore was a big difference at the start of the game, as far as his effort,” Douglass said. “He really brought us a lot of energy. He had nine rebounds and 16 points in 25 minutes. It was too bad he got in foul trouble.

Moore fouled out, in part due to getting one of the aforementioned technical fouls, when he responded forcefully after being pushed by Bakersfield’s Bryan Emanuel following a battle for a rebound.

After Moore was pushed, he charged back at Emanuel and into a crowd of players from both teams. A brief encounter occurred, but nothing other than the initial push appeared to take place.

Coaches from both teams intervened and the officials elected to administer a double technical, one each to Emanuel and Moore.

Moore later was fouled hard on a breakaway, with Bakersfield’s Donavan Bragg, who swiped down hard on Moore’s arm from behind, knocking him off stride around the three-point line, being whistled for an intentional foul.

Moore netted both free throws to finalize his scoring output. Moore was five for 10 from the field and made five of six foul shots before exiting with five fouls with 6:04 left.

“When [Moore] brings it, he’s an effective player and I really thought he brought his ‘A’ game tonight,” Douglass said.

“I wanted to be aggressive,” Moore said. “We played them earlier in the week and I wasn’t that aggressive. I was kind of passive. I wanted to let the game come to me today and be aggressive with my shot.”

Moore’s willingness to provide strong physical play was mirrored by most of his teammates in a game in which 45 fouls were assessed to 19 players.

Sophomore Eric Wise had 21 points and seven rebounds, helping the Anteaters (10-14) post a 28-12 advantage with points in the paint.

UCI also forced 19 turnovers by the Roadrunners (5-17), allowing the hosts to post a 27-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

UCI had 12 turnovers and shot 44.8% from the field, well better than Bakersfield (32.1%).

UCI scored the first five points of the game, but Bakersfield answered with a 7-0 run.

But a pair of three-pointers by UCI senior guard Michael Hunter (15 points) sparked a 13-0 spurt that helped UCI establish control for good.

The ’Eaters led, 33-22 at halftime and Bakersfield never cut the deficit below double digits.

“They can be a pretty physical team, so I thought our guys battled them in the paint, particularly the first half,” Douglass said. “We have to play [with good effort] to be effective and be able to compete.”

Moore said there is more fight left in the Anteaters (3-7 in the Big West Conference), who lost ground in the Big West standings Saturday and are only a half-game ahead of last-place UC Riverside (3-8 after a win at Cal State Fullerton Saturday).

“This win should get us going in conference, now,” said Moore, whose squad has dropped six of its last seven Big West contests. “I think that if we keep the energy up and keep fighting, wins will come in conference.”

Wise and Hunter had four assists apiece, while junior guard Patrick Rembert led the winners with five assists and only one turnover.

Junior Emil Kim had six points and three rebounds in five reserve minutes for UCI, which has conference home games next week against Cal State Fullerton (Wednesday) and UC Davis (Saturday).

Nonconference

UC Irvine 73, Cal State Bakersfield 63

CSUB – Blakley 9, Latunde 4, Bragg 25, Carter 12, Hall 2, Albright 5, Emanuel 3, Brown 3.

3-pt. goals – Bragg 4, Blakley 1.

Fouled out – Carter.

Technicals – Emanuel.

UCI– Wise 21, Atkinson 6, Moore 16, Hunter 15, Rembert 5, Kim 6, Simek 4, Losonsky 2, Flowers 1.

3-pt. goals – Hunter 3, Moore 1, Rembert 1.

Fouled out – Moore.

Technicals – Moore.

Halftime – UCI, 33-22.