UCI enters Big West play on a roll

Barry Faulkner

With each passing victory, it is becoming increasingly difficult for

UC Irvine men’s basketball coach Pat Douglass to harness his growing

enthusiasm about this season’s team.

After a 75-62 nonconference home triumph Tuesday that he called

his team’s best performance to date, Douglass continued to praise the

progress of his squad.

The Anteaters (5-2) have now won four straight as they prepare to

begin Big West Conference play Dec. 28 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“A lot of times in this league, it takes four or five guys who

have been through the wars,” Douglass said. “My guys haven’t been

through the war, but they are warriors. They’re buying in and I think

we’re going to make our presence known as we get into league.”

The Anteaters wasted little time introducing their budding

confidence and cohesiveness on the Aggies (3-7). The hosts seized a

10-0 lead that eventually bulged to 17-3.

UCI flourished for most of the contest in all facets, pounding the

ball inside for a game-high 19 points from 6-foot-8 senior center

Greg Ethington, whipping it around the perimeter to find open jump

shooters and playing the transition game with aplomb.

They also continued their solid play defensively.

UCI shot 48.2% from the field, including 7 of 13 from beyond the

three-point line (53.8%), committed 13 turnovers to the Aggies’ 23

and had all five starters score in double figures.

“We’re starting to handle the ball pretty well,” Douglass said of

one of the biggest areas of improvement the last two weeks.

“My kids are looking to strive to get better,” Douglass said. “We

have a long way to go, still, but this team can be pretty good by the

second half of league. These kids are trying, so I’m enjoying it.”

There was plenty to enjoy for the UCI rooters among the modest

crowd of 1,692, obviously hurt by the lack of students already on

semester break.

Sophomore Nic Campbell, whose emergence as a starter the last

three games has coincided with the team’s upswing, made 2 of 3

three-pointers on his way to a career-high 11 points.

Freshman Darren Fells chipped in 10 points and six rebounds and

was 5 of 10 from the field.

Ethington, who avoided foul trouble that has cost him valuable

minutes in a handful of games this season, made 7 of 9 field-goal

attempts and 5 of 6 free throws.

Junior point guard Aaron Fitzgerald scored 14 points and most of

his six assists led to transition buckets.

Junior sharpshooter Ross Schraeder netted 4 of 5 three-pointers

and is now shooting 48.9% from threedom (22 for 45) for the season.

Schraeder, who shared Big West Conference Player of the Week honors

for his strong performances in road wins over Santa Clara and San

Jose State, added a career-high six rebounds.

Junior Jeff Gloger chipped in five rebounds, three assists and

three steals off the bench, while 6-10 junior Adam Metelski had seven

points and made 3 of 4 field-goal tries, adding to Ethington’s strong

offensive post presence.

UCI mirrored its fast start after halftime, scoring eight straight

points to widen a nine-point halftime lead into a 51-34 cushion.

The lead got as high as 19, before New Mexico State chipped into

it in the waning moments.

“New Mexico State still has a name, so for them to come in here

and for us to control the game the way we did ... It’s a satisfying

win,” Douglass said.

Nonconference

UC Irvine 75,

New Mexico State 62

New Mexico State -- Lawrence 10, Mitchell 8, Davis 6, John 2,

Haynes 2, Jones 2, Jenkins 18, Alexander 14.

3-pt goals -- Jenkins 4, Mitchell 1, Davis 1.

Fouled out -- Jones.

Technicals -- None.

UC Irvine -- Campbell 11, Fells 10, Ethington 19, Fitzgerald 14,

Schraeder 12, Metelski 7, Gloger 2.

3-pt. goals -- Schraeder 4, Campbell 2, Fitzgerald 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Halftime -- UCI, 43-34.