UC Irvine (14-17) vs. Cal Poly (11-18)
UC Irvine (14-17) vs. Cal Poly (11-18)
UC Irvine (14-17) vs. Cal Poly (11-18)
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, March 10th, 11:30 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Anaheim Convention Center Arena (7,734) -- Anaheim, California. Television: BigWest.TV. Home Record: UCI 10-5, Cal Poly 6-6. Away Record: UCI 3-11, Cal Poly 5-12. Neutral Record: UCI 1-1, Cal Poly 0-0. Conference Record: UCI 6-10, Cal Poly 7-9. Series Record: UC Irvine leads, 20-15.
GAME NOTES: A couple of teams still waiting to feel the thrill of winning a Big West Conference Tournament title begin play in the 35th annual event tonight, as the UC Irvine Anteaters collide with the Cal Poly Mustangs at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.
In danger of missing out on the tournament altogether, Saturday saw the Anteaters stage a comeback for the ages as they not only rebounded from an eight-point deficit with a mere 48 seconds to play in regulation, but they ended up crushing this same Cal Poly bunch in overtime and captured the 91-84 win on the road. The victory, the third in the last four games for UCI, earned them the seventh seed in the tourney.
As for the Mustangs, losers of two of their last three games, they slipped to the sixth seed as they tied Cal State Northridge in the standings with a mark of 6-10.
UCI owns a 20-15 lead in the all-time series with the Mustangs, thanks in part to the thrilling win over the weekend. The Anteaters won the only previous meeting between the two teams in this tournament, capturing a 71-66 victory in the quarterfinals back in 2001.
Depending on the outcome of this game and the matchup between Cal State Northridge and Cal State Fullerton, the next round of action could see the survivor of this meeting facing off against either Long Beach State or UC Davis tomorrow in the quarterfinals.
As one of three players to have started all 31 games for the Anteaters this season, Eric Wise stands as the top scorer for the program with his 16.4 ppg and is also first in both rebounding (6.4 rpg) and assists (94) which makes him a rarity among today's college players. Wise was a fixture at the free- throw line with his 135-of-193 effort, a great sign for someone who shouldn't be out on the perimeter (6-of-26) in the first place. Michael Hunter (14.0 ppg) and Darren Moore (10.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg) were the other two mainstays in the starting lineup for the program, combining to make 121 of the unit's 184 three-point baskets in 2009-10. One thing UC Irvine has to guard against is three-point shooting because during the regular season the squad allowed opponents to make good on a hefty 39.3 percent of their attempts.
What the Mustangs have to be worried about is their defense, having given up 75.4 ppg this season while scoring just 70.1 ppg of their own. An all- conference performer in 2009-10, Lorenzo Keeler led the way on offense for the group with his 16.0 ppg, even though he shot just 37.2 percent from the field and 30.9 percent beyond the arc. He was, in fact, the most successful perimeter shooter for the Mustangs with his 54 conversions, but it was at the free-throw line (145-of-169) where he made the most noise for the unit. Shawn Lewis (12.0 ppg) and David Hanson (10.4 ppg) lent a hand on offense as well, even though the latter continued to fire away from the perimeter even though he was just 28 percent successful.
Cal Poly might have revenge as a motivating factor in this meeting, but with UCI coming off such a thrilling high just four days ago, expect to see that carry over and take the Anteaters into the next round.
Predicted Outcome: UC Irvine 77, Cal Poly 72
UC Irvine (14-17) vs. Cal Poly (11-18)
UC Irvine (14-17) vs. Cal Poly (11-18)
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, March 10th, 11:30 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Anaheim Convention Center Arena (7,734) -- Anaheim, California. Television: BigWest.TV. Home Record: UCI 10-5, Cal Poly 6-6. Away Record: UCI 3-11, Cal Poly 5-12. Neutral Record: UCI 1-1, Cal Poly 0-0. Conference Record: UCI 6-10, Cal Poly 7-9. Series Record: UC Irvine leads, 20-15.
GAME NOTES: A couple of teams still waiting to feel the thrill of winning a Big West Conference Tournament title begin play in the 35th annual event tonight, as the UC Irvine Anteaters collide with the Cal Poly Mustangs at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.
In danger of missing out on the tournament altogether, Saturday saw the Anteaters stage a comeback for the ages as they not only rebounded from an eight-point deficit with a mere 48 seconds to play in regulation, but they ended up crushing this same Cal Poly bunch in overtime and captured the 91-84 win on the road. The victory, the third in the last four games for UCI, earned them the seventh seed in the tourney.
As for the Mustangs, losers of two of their last three games, they slipped to the sixth seed as they tied Cal State Northridge in the standings with a mark of 6-10.
UCI owns a 20-15 lead in the all-time series with the Mustangs, thanks in part to the thrilling win over the weekend. The Anteaters won the only previous meeting between the two teams in this tournament, capturing a 71-66 victory in the quarterfinals back in 2001.
Depending on the outcome of this game and the matchup between Cal State Northridge and Cal State Fullerton, the next round of action could see the survivor of this meeting facing off against either Long Beach State or UC Davis tomorrow in the quarterfinals.
As one of three players to have started all 31 games for the Anteaters this season, Eric Wise stands as the top scorer for the program with his 16.4 ppg and is also first in both rebounding (6.4 rpg) and assists (94) which makes him a rarity among today's college players. Wise was a fixture at the free- throw line with his 135-of-193 effort, a great sign for someone who shouldn't be out on the perimeter (6-of-26) in the first place. Michael Hunter (14.0 ppg) and Darren Moore (10.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg) were the other two mainstays in the starting lineup for the program, combining to make 121 of the unit's 184 three-point baskets in 2009-10. One thing UC Irvine has to guard against is three-point shooting because during the regular season the squad allowed opponents to make good on a hefty 39.3 percent of their attempts.
What the Mustangs have to be worried about is their defense, having given up 75.4 ppg this season while scoring just 70.1 ppg of their own. An all- conference performer in 2009-10, Lorenzo Keeler led the way on offense for the group with his 16.0 ppg, even though he shot just 37.2 percent from the field and 30.9 percent beyond the arc. He was, in fact, the most successful perimeter shooter for the Mustangs with his 54 conversions, but it was at the free-throw line (145-of-169) where he made the most noise for the unit. Shawn Lewis (12.0 ppg) and David Hanson (10.4 ppg) lent a hand on offense as well, even though the latter continued to fire away from the perimeter even though he was just 28 percent successful.
Cal Poly might have revenge as a motivating factor in this meeting, but with UCI coming off such a thrilling high just four days ago, expect to see that carry over and take the Anteaters into the next round.
Predicted Outcome: UC Irvine 77, Cal Poly 72
