‘Eaters rebound with win

Barry Faulkner

CINCINNATI -- With sophomore point guard Jeff Gloger just 31 games

into his career, UCI men’s basketball Coach Pat Douglass doesn’t

expect him to take over a game. But Douglass said he wasn’t

surprised, either, when the versatile 6-foot-4 floor leader came

through on many levels in the final stages of the Anteaters’ 65-60

win Sunday over the University of San Diego in the consolation

semifinals of the Dell Black Coaches Association Classic at Xavier

University.

“[Gloger] has been a factor down the stretch in games and he

responded today,” Douglass said.

Gloger first asserted himself late in the first half, hitting a

pair of perimeter jump shots to spark a 9-2 run that shaved a 29-16

USD lead to a more manageable, 31-25 halftime deficit.

Gloger, a member of the Big West Conference all-freshmen team last

year when he set the school single-season steal record (75) and

averaged 8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3 assists, was even bigger in

the final 20 minutes.

In addition to keying UCI’s extended zone defense -- his five

steals were one shy of the tournament record -- he grabbed eight of

his team-high nine rebounds after intermission. He also scored 13 of

his career-high-tying 17 points after halftime.

UCI (1-1) meets Ohio (1-1) in the consolation final today at 11

a.m.

Gloger’s putback with 11:52 left in the game gave UCI a 43-42

lead, it’s first advantage since 2-0. He scored again 32 seconds

later on a steal and breakaway layin as part of an 11-0 Irvine run

that produced a 47-42 edge with 10:41 left.

After USD (0-2) got back-to-back three-pointers by Illinois

transfer Brett Melton to close within 55-51, Gloger’s efforts

virtually assured the ‘Eaters’ first victory of the season.

He sank a three-pointer after his own offensive rebound with five

minutes left on his way to posting seven of UCI’s final 10 points. He

also had one of his four assists down the stretch and sealed the deal

by sinking all four of his free throws in the final 18 seconds.

“Gloger is a good-size point guard who is very active,” USD Coach

Brad Holland said. “He hurt us on the boards and, along with [Aras]

Baskauskas, did a good job of pressuring us on the defensive end.

[Gloger] was all over the floor.”

Gloger’s heroics were supported by senior backcourt mate

Baskauskas (four assists, no turnovers and pressure perimeter

defense), senior center Adam Parada (14 points on 5-of-6 shooting

from the field) and foul-plauged senior Stanislav Zuzak (11 points

and six rebounds in 23 minutes).

The come-from-behind win was made necessary by 13 first-half

turnovers, a recurring trend after UCI committed 24 in a first-round

loss to Illinois-Chicago.

“We didn’t take care of the ball in the first half, but we started

to do a better job in the second half,” Douglass said.

In addition to much sharper execution, resulting in 12 second-half

points in the paint and more open looks from the perimeter, UCI’s

defense keyed the turnaround.

UCI’s pressure helped limit the Toreros to just one field goal and

three points in a second-half stretch of 9:37, from which USD never

recovered.

A Brad Lechtenberg three-pointer with 2:54 left pulled USD within

58-57, but Parada scored on a six-foot jump hook after taking

Gloger’s entry pass, then hit a foul shot 34 seconds later to up the

lead to 61-57.

Gloger answered three USD free throws with two of his own with 18

seconds left, then rebounded an off-balance three-point attempt from

the right corner with one second left.

“[The Anteaters] executed their game inside five minutes and we

didn’t,” Holland said.

ZOTS

Today’s opponent, Ohio, could enjoy a minor home-state advantage,

but with a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Cincinnati more than a

couple hundred fans would be unexpected ... With 14 points Sunday,

Parada now has 999 for his career. He surpassed Kevin Floyd (995) to

rank No. 15 on the UCI career list. Parada also has 599 carer

rebounds, 12 away from Ricky Butler, who is No. 9 in school annals

... Holland said the Anteaters’ inside-out offense makes them

difficult to defend. “It’s pick your poison,” Hoolland said. “When

you look at Parada, Zuzak and [Greg] Ethington, they’re tough inside.

And we didn’t want to give [Ross[ Schraeder any free looks. We just

tried to close out and keep their guards in front of us.”

*--*

Dell BCA Classic

Consolation semifinals

UCI 65, San Diego 60

San Diego -- Vounang 16, Melton, 13, Lewis 11, Lechtenberg 9, McGrain 8, Sane 3. 3-pt. goals -- Melton 3, Lechtenberg 3, Lewis 1. Fouled out -- None. Technical fouls -- None. UCI -- Gloger 17, Parada 14, Zuzak 11, Schraeder 8, Efevberha 8, Okoro 5,

Ethington 2. 3-pt. goals -- Schraeder 2, Efevberha 2, Gloger 1, Zuzak 1. Fouled out -- Schraeder. Technical fouls -- None. Halftime -- San Diego 31-25.

*--*