‘Eaters win in OT, 78-73

Steve Virgen

The essence of 2003 Big West Conference men’s basketball came to the

Bren Events Center Saturday night. It figures. The Big West aura was

all over the West Coast, anyway.

In this gut-wrenching matchup between UC Irvine and University of

the Pacific, it was the Anteaters who came out on top, 78-73, in a

wild, wild overtime game before 2,331.

Pacific junior Miah Davis nailed a three-pointer near the top of

the key with Jeff Gloger’s hand in his face, as time expired in

regulation, making it, 69-69. Then, the Anteaters outscored UOP, 9-4,

in the overtime period.

UCI senior forward Jordan Harris, fighting off an illness, scored

a season-high 23 points, while 7-foot junior center Adam Parada added

15 points and 13 rebounds, and junior Matt Okoro came off the bench

to contribute 12 points and a key block late in regulation.

The Anteaters moved into first place in the Big West, for the time

being, a half-game ahead over idle UC Santa Barbara. Utah State,

which was in first, was upset at UC Riverside, 72-65.

“It was a real gutty effort,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said of his

squad. “You never can take anything for granted in this league. It’s

been that way this whole season.”

Douglass said he’s not seen this much parity, or craziness, in his

six years in the Big West. Most coaches in the conference say the

madness results in, “the fine line,” which means that there is no

room for error because of the competitive balance.

UCI-Pacific wasn’t the only overtime game in the Big West. Cal

State Fullerton won in overtime, 62-59, over Idaho.

“This was a great college basketball game,” said Pacific Coach Bob

Thomason, in his 15th season with the Tigers. “This year, (the Big

West) is more competitive. It’s just a wild race. The teams are all

good, but there is no one who is dominating. In the first round (of

the Big West Tournament)

there’s going to be some teams that figure to win, but that won’t

be the case. We’re going to cause somebody some problems.”

UOP, which began the Big West season 3-0, caused some problems for

UCI midway through the first half. UCI (17-7, 11-4 in the Big West),

the two-time defending Big West regular-season champion, opened with

a 12-0 lead in a little over the first five minutes.

But, Pacific proceeded with a 27-2 run that featured

three-straight three-pointers, and five treys in the scoring spurt.

The Tigers’ run was in a span of 6:15, as UCI ndured a five-minute

scoring drought. UCI also went with 8:31 without a field goal.

Pacific senior guard Demetrius Jackson, who has been battling pain

in his tailbone, nailed three three-pointers in the first half, and

often followed his shots with a defiant stare or offered choice words

to the crowd and the UCI bench.

Harris broke the field-goal drought with a 18-foot pull-up jumper

that brought UCI to within, 32-19 with 6:15 left before halftime.

That started a 12-7 that closed out the half and Pacific led, 39-31.

The Tigers hit 8 of 15 three-pointers in the first half.

Harris took over in the second half, scoring 13 points and

hustling after loose balls.

“When a guy starts woofin’ at your bench, it just pisses you off,”

Harris said. “That got us riled up. That put a fire under us. It just

made us feel better to get the victory, especially over (Matt)

Kemper.”

Kemper, a 6-9 sophomore for Pacific, is a transfer from Irvine

Valley College. Last year, he was sharing a room with Aras

Baskauskas, the UCI junior guard.

Baskauskas nailed a key basket, a jump-shot just inside of the

three-point line with 3:03 left in the overtime, that gave UCI a

72-69 lead. Pacific answered back when Tim Johnson scored down low.

Later, with one minute remaining, Okoro deflected a pass to

Baskauskas on defense and the junior guard called a timeout.

Baskauskas missed a 15-foot jumper, but Okoro grabbed his final of

five offensive rebounds and was fouled with 29 seconds left. He made

both free-throws.

Pacific junior guard Myree Bowden drove the lane with just under

15 seconds left. It appeared he was looking for contact, but the

defender, Mike Hood, moved to the side and Bowden took an extra step

for a traveling violation.

Harris and Hood made two free throws each down the stretch to

close out the win. The Tigers (11-12, 6-8) were without Jackson in

the overtime. He fouled out, and Bowden and Kemper fouled out in

overtime.

The ‘Eaters looked as if they would win in regulation, as Parada

nailed a 17-foot fadeaway shot along the baseline with 35 seconds

left to give UCI a 66-64 lead. Moments later, Okoro went up and

blocked Jackson driving layup attempt. Thomason said he thought it

was goaltending. With 15 seconds left in regulation, Baskauskas hit

two free throws for a 68-64 lead, but Bowden scored with seven

seconds and the Tigers quickly fouled Gloger.

Gloger made one of two free throws, allowing the Stockton-based

Tigers the chance to tie the game.

Gloger recorded three steals to tie Scott Brooks’ school record of

66 in one season.

The Anteaters return to action Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Cal Poly

San Luis Obispo.