UC Irvine Sets Aside Run-and-Gun Offense for Tonight’s Game With Nevada Las Vegas

UC Irvine’s basketball team may be slowing down.

“We might not run as much in the future,” said Coach Bill Mulligan. We’re more suited to being a half-court offensive team. It just took me a long time to realize it. Before Saturday’s game, I told the team we’re gonna live and die with Wayne (Engelstad) from now on.”

The tactic certainly was successful Saturday. Engelstad, a 6-8 senior center, scored 40 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Irvine (10-8 overall and 5-4 in Pacific Coast Athletic Assn.) beat New Mexico State, 79-62.

Irvine probably will need big nights from everyone to beat No. 2-ranked Nevada Las Vegas (19-1, 8-1) tonight in the Bren Center, however.

Irvine players think this UNLV team has better athletes--if not better basketball players--than last year’s Final Four squad. Forwards Jarvis Basnight and Gerald Paddio continue to wreak inside-outside havoc. Basnight, who leads the nation in field-goal percentage (.724), is averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds. Paddio, who has made almost twice as many three-pointers (75) as anyone in the conference, is averaging 20 points and 5 rebounds.