UC Irvine loses season opener at New Mexico State

2 years ago 263

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The UC Irvine men’s hoops squad is intent connected returning to the apical of the Big West Conference standings this season, assured that the acquisition its young roster gained past play volition construe to maturation and cohesion.

The Anteaters tested themselves close retired of the gross connected Tuesday night, but they dropped their play opener to New Mexico State, 62-51, successful a stone combat of a nonconference crippled betwixt traditionally stingy antiaircraft teams.

Collin Welp had 13 points and 5 rebounds, and Dawson Baker added 11 points to pb UCI, which trailed 55-51 with 2:21 near earlier the Aggies closed the crippled connected a 7-0 run. DJ Davis had 9 points, and Justin Hohn added six points and 7 rebounds for UCI.

Teddy Allen had 14 points to pb 5 New Mexico State players successful treble figures. Jabari Rice and Mario McKinney Jr. had 12 points apiece, and Donnie Tillman and Will McNair Jr. each added 10 points.

One of conscionable 2 Division I teams prevented from playing immoderate location games successful 2020-21 owed to in-state COVID-19 restrictions, the Aggies gave a raucous assemblage of 5,056 plentifulness to cheer astir successful their archetypal crippled successful the Pan American Center since March 5, 2020 (614 days).

The Anteaters trailed by 10 points successful the archetypal half, and they could ne'er rather reel successful the Aggies aft halftime. UCI got wrong 2 aboriginal successful the 2nd half, but the hosts pushed their pb backmost to 9 points.

UCI utilized an 8-2 tally to get wrong 51-48 with 6:20 left, and a Davis jumper with 2:21 near trimmed the shortage to 55-51. Allen made a floater successful the lane followed by a country 3-pointer with 1:32 near to propulsion the borderline backmost to 9 points. UCI missed its past 3 shots and Rice made 2 escaped throws with 30 seconds near to headdress the scoring.

Neither squad changeable peculiarly well, which wasn’t unexpected the mode some coaches and programs pridefulness themselves connected defense. UCI changeable 30.6% (19 for 62) wide and 4 for 21 from 3-point range. New Mexico State changeable 37.7% wide (20 for 53) and 7 for 23 from down the arc.

The Aggies focused their antiaircraft effort connected Welp and harassed the All-Big West performer into a 5-for-14 shooting night. Baker was 4 for 14 and Davis was 4 for 13.

“We conscionable didn’t marque bully capable plays to triumph this game,” UCI manager Russell Turner said. “That disappoints me, due to the fact that I deliberation we are a squad bully capable to triumph this benignant of game. I springiness New Mexico State recognition defensively, they came astatine america and I knew they would. We rebounded well, but I deliberation astatine times we were tentative connected discourtesy and astatine times selfish connected offense.”

Twelve Anteaters played, with 10 of them logging astatine slightest 11:55 of tribunal time.