Men’s Basketball: ‘Eaters hold off Cal Poly
It has been three weeks since the UC Irvine men’s basketball team was defeated. The key number these days seems to be three.
The Anteaters netted half of their 18 three-point attempts against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, including four within a span of 3:35 late in the second half, to help earn a 67-57 Big West Conference victory Thursday at the Bren Events Center.
Senior Travis Souza made five of eight from three-point range on his way to a career-high 17 points. Souza’s final two three-pointers capped a 12-0 run that followed a Mustangs’ surge that trimmed a nine-point halftime lead to one.
UCI (12-8, 5-1 in conference and on a five-game win streak) outscored the visitors, 17-2, during a span of 6:38 in which the Mustangs did not convert a field goal until only 3:20 remained in the game.
UCI, which entered the week shooting 40.6% from threedom (No. 14 in the country), has now made 27 of 52 three-point tries in the last three games (51.9%).
“There are times when I think we get three-happy and shoot too many of them” UCI Coach Russell Turner said. “Then I look at the stat sheet and our percentage says we shoot too few.”
In addition to its perimeter prowess, UCI posted a 32-26 advantage with points in the paint and also compiled a 39-28 rebounding surplus.
“Our three-point percentage has to do with the fact that we take good shots,” Turner said. “But I really thought we tightened up our defense when we had to and that was the key to the win.”
Turner was especially pleased with his defense in the first half, when Cal Poly (10-9, 3-4) made just 40% of its 30 field-goal attempts, was just one for four from three-point range and missed its only free-throw attempt.
But the Mustangs, who upset UCI in last year’s Big West tournament semifinals on their way to an NCAA Tournament berth, opened the second half on a 12-4 run to pull within 38-37 with 14:18 left.
UCI, however, pulled away to remain in a three-way tie for first with UC Davis and Long Beach State.
“I thought we came out with less focus and energy in the second half than what I expect,” Turner said. “But we regained it and were able to stretch the lead against a Cal Poly team we all respect.”
Senior Will Davis scored UCI’s first eight points after intermission on his way to 14 points and eight rebounds.
And sophomore guard Luke Davis, who tied his career high with eight assists, netted the three-pointer that sparked the aforementioned 12-0 spurt to help UCI begin a three-game homestand with its sixth win in eight home dates this season.
Senior John Ryan had seven points, six rebounds and half of UCI’s eight blocked shots, while junior Alex Young chipped in seven points, five rebounds and three assists for the winners.
“We can play really good basketball with this team,” said Turner, who cited improved defense as the biggest key to the win streak. “When we defend and we rebound and play unselfishly and are strong with the ball, we’re pretty good.”
UCI had 11 of the game’s 20 turnovers but had 17 assists on its 27 field goals. The ‘Eaters trailed only once (2-0) and appear to be rising despite the absence of 7-foot-6 sophomore Mamadou Ndiaye, who missed his fourth straight game and his 13th of the season with a foot injury.
Turner said the soonest Ndiaye could return would be Feb. 5 against UC Davis.
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Big West Conference
UC Irvine 67, Cal Poly SLO 57
CPSLO – Awich 13, Bennett 6, Nwaba 6, Love 9, Boldon 2, Morgan 17, Shipley 4.
3-pt. goals – Morgon 2, Awich 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
UCI – Davis 14, Ryan 7, Souza 17, Young 7, Nelson 6, Dunning 7, Best 4, Wright 2, Dimakopoulos 2.
3-pt. goals – Souza 5, Nelson 2, Dunning 1, Wright 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
Halftime – 34-25 UCI.