Season ends for UCI

ANAHEIM — This time there was no miracle comeback, no reprieve for what many believe is a departing coach.

This time, the UC Irvine men’s basketball team did what it did last season, exiting in the first round of the Big West Conference Tournament with a 73-69 loss to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Wednesday at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Just four days ago, UCI (14-18) erased an eight-point deficit in the final 38 seconds to force overtime in a 91-84 win at Cal Poly (12-18) in the regular-season finale.

It could be the end of a 13-year tenure for Coach Pat Douglass, who tops the school’s career victories list with a 197-191 record at the helm of the Anteaters.

Douglass declined to address the situation after the game, instead choosing to focus his comments on the game.

In this one, the Mustangs survived a see-saw second half, taking an insurmountable 69-65 lead with 2:02 left on a layup by Lorenzo Keeler, and then holding on.

UCI had possession after Mustangs’ sophomore David Hanson missed a free throw with 22 seconds left.

After Douglass called timeout with 13 ticks remaining, the Anteaters worked the ball to sophomore second-team all-conference performer Eric Wise, who was isolated at the top of the key.

But Wise, only the second player in program history to lead the Anteaters in scoring, rebounding and assists, was called for an offensive foul when his right forearm leveled Keeler while Wise was dribbling with 5.2 seconds left.

Keeler, who had a game-high 27 points, made both foul shots and UCI’s desperation three-pointer at the buzzer was not close.

UCI senior Zack Atkinson’s fourth dunk of the game forged a 65-65 deadlock with 4:44 left.

And junior Darren Moore, who hit two three-pointers in the final nine seconds of regulation to force overtime Saturday, converted a traditional three-point play with 25 seconds left to pull UCI within 70-69.

Wise scored 10 points and Moore added nine to help UCI claim a 35-29 halftime lead.

The Anteaters had their greatest success attacking the basket against the Mustangs’ one-three-one zone defense.

Moore, who had a career-high 24 points Saturday, made his final four first-half field-goal attempts after missing his first two.

Sophomore Adam Folker provided a spark off the bench, collecting six first-half rebounds. He finished with seven boards, but fouled out with 5:44 left.

Cal Poly (12-18) used a 9-0 run to take an 11-4 lead.

The Mustangs expanded the margin to 14-6, but the Anteaters charged back to even at 16-16 and pulled ahead, 20-18, when Moore scored with 7:54 left in the half.

UCI ended the half on a 9-0 run to assume command.

The Anteaters shot 59.3% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, though they were just one for five from the free-throw line.

Cal Poly made all nine of its foul shots and finished nine for 23 from the field (39.l%) in the first half.

UCI had just two of the first half’s five turnovers and finished with eight of the game’s 17 turnovers.

UCI senior guard Michael Hunter sat the final 8:58 of the first half after getting his second foul.

Hunter scored the first five points of the second half and UCI continued to boost the lead, with Patrick Rembert’s three-pointer creating a 45-31 advantage with 17:22 left in the game.

But Cal Poly went on a 13-2 run and finally pulled even at 52-52 with a three-pointer by David Hanson with 9:23 left.

Wise finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while Moore produced a team-high 19 points.

Rembert scored 13 points to go with four assists as UCI finished 28 for 55 from the field (50.9%).

Atkinson had eight points, five blocked shots, one off the school record, and four rebounds.

Cal Poly shot 42.6% for the game.

Big West Conference Tournament

First round

Cal Poly SLO 73, UC Irvine 69

UC Irvine – Wise 14, Kim 2, Hunter 8, Moore 19, Rembert 13, Atkinson 8, Wilder 3, Folker 2.

3-pt. goals – Hunter 2, Rembert 1, Wilder 1.

Fouled out – Folker.

Technicals – None.

CPSLO – Hanson 15, Anderson 6, Keeler 27, S. Lewis 5, J. Lewis 5, Taylor 2, Odister 9, Darling 4.

3-pt. goals – Odister 3, Hanson 2, Keeler 1, Anderson 1, S. Lewis 1.

Fouled out – J. Lewis.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – UCI, 35-29.