‘Eaters done in by Brew

GOLETA — The winning formula is clearly coming together for the UC Irvine men’s basketball team.

But host UC Santa Barbara had an unbeatable “Brew” of its own to help escape with a 68-61 Big West Conference victory Thursday night in front of 1,628 at the Thunderdome.

Gauchos freshman Will Brew made his first six three-point attempts, five in the first half, on his way to a career-high 18 points to help UCSB (7-8, 1-2 in conference) end a four-game losing streak against the Anteaters (3-11, 1-1).

“That’s icing on the cake when Brew is hitting shots like that,” said UCSB Coach Bob Williams, who noted Brew, just six of 20 from three-point range entering Thursday, has worked hard to completely restructure his shot since entering the program.

Brew was averaging just 3.5 points per game in his first collegiate season.

“We were not anticipating Brew making six threes,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said.

UCSB junior James Powell has also been working to break out of a season-long shooting slump (29.5% from three-point range, down from 46.7% as a sophomore). And while he netted just one of his two attempts from beyond the arc Thursday, it may have been the biggest basket of the night.

Powell, who finished seven of 10 from the field and had a game-high 19 points, hit a three-pointer from the left wing with 1:53 left to give the Gauchos a 62-55 lead. The ’Eaters never got closer than six.

Before Powell connected, UCSB shooters other than Brew were zero for 10 from beyond the arc.

UCSB shot 59.1% in the first half to seize a 33-21 lead. But UCI opened the second half by making 10 of its first 12 field-goal tries and locking down defensively to consistently chip in the lead.

Brett Lauer’s only basket of the game, a three-pointer with 12:01 left, pulled the Anteaters even, 47-47, and a layup after a turnover by freshman Adam Folker with 7:33 left gave the visitors a 52-51 edge, their first lead since 8-6.

But UCI went the next 6:19 with only one field goal and UCSB made 12 of its final 14 free-throw attempts to secure the win.

“I was proud of the way our guys fought back in the second half, but there were some key possessions that we didn’t come away with what we needed,” Douglass said.

Junior point guard Michael Hunter gave the Anteaters what they needed early after intermission, collecting eight points during a 16-7 half-opening run that quieted the home crowd.

“Michael Hunter started getting hot,” Powell said of the biggest reason for the ’Eaters’ comeback.

Hunter finished seven of 12 from the field and three of six from threedom, to net a team-high 17 points. He had two assists, three rebounds, one steal and three turnovers in what Douglass said was one of his better games in a while.

Freshman Eric Wise, who was one for seven from the field in the first 20 minutes, rebounded to finish with 13 points, while senior Kevin Bland was five of seven from the field to post 12 points.

Folker, whose physical defense limited UCSB senior leading scorer Chris Devine to just two field goals in four attempts, had six rebounds to share team-high honors with Wise.

UCI outrebounded the Gauchos, 30-25, and did not exceed the Gauchos’ 14 turnovers.

But UCSB, shooting just 65.7% from the foul line in its first 14 games, made 19 of 24 for 79.2%, rendering every UCI missed field-goal attempt that much more costly.

After a Powell layup gave the hosts a 57-54 advantage with 5:45 left, UCI missed five straight shots from the field, including three from beyond the arc, to allow UCSB to find cover.

“I didn’t like the mindset our guys started the second half with and [the ’Eaters] came out and decided they were going to be aggressive on defense and shoot the ball more confidently,” Williams said.

Williams said UCI denied Devine any offensive rhythm the entire night, an observation echoed by Douglass. Both coaches credited physically active denial defense by Folker for obviously frustrating Devine.

“Folker is a battler and so is Devine, so that was a good matchup,” Douglass said.

Powell said he intentionally limited his three-point attempts, in order to find more high-percentage shots. And his three-pointer made amends for what he called a boneheaded pass that gave UCI possession just 40 seconds before his crucial three ball.

“That was only my second [three-point attempt] of the night and the [defender] was three feet away from me,” Powell said. “If I had taken six or seven threes like I had been, maybe they are looking for me to be there and are on me a little tighter.”

Lauer, who made seven three-pointers in the conference-opening home win over Cal State Fullerton Saturday to earn Big West Player of the Week recognition, was one for seven from the field, one for five from three-point range.

UCI continues the Central Coast road swing by visiting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Saturday at 7 p.m.

Big West Conference

UC Santa Barbara 68, UC Irvine 61

UCI – Bland 11, Folker 6, Wise 13, Hunter 17, Lauer 3, Rembert 7, Atkinson 4. 3-pt. goals – Hunter 3, Lauer 1, Rembert 1.

Fouled out – Folker.

Technicals – None.

UCSB – Devine 11, Nunnally 4, Somogyi 2, Powell 19, Brew 18, Serna 6, Posley 6. Phippen 2.

3-pt. goals – Brew 6, Powell 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – UCSB, 33-21.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].