‘Eaters’ win gives McIntosh edge

IRVINE — Unlike some other mid-major matchups, the UC Irvine-Idaho men’s basketball clash as part of BracketBuster Saturday, had little to do with posturing for the NCAA Tournament bracket.

But the Anteaters’ 69-55 victory, before 1,570 at the Bren Events Center, at least left one UCI player with the right to bust the chops of a former high school teammate and childhood friend.

UCI senior guard Marcus McIntosh said he had been looking forward to a court reunion with Idaho senior forward Clyde Johnson, as well as junior Vandals guard Jordan Brooks — whom he crossed paths with during his stint at Texas A&M; — since learning Idaho would be the ’Eaters BracketBuster foe.

“[Johnson and I] grew up together and Jordan Brooks is an old friend from when I was in Texas,” McIntosh said. “It’s a small world. I was kind of excited when we drew Idaho. There has been a lot of talk going back and forth [via text messages and phone calls] the last couple weeks.”

McIntosh shared some conversation and some laughs on the court with Johnson and Brooks, but only one team could seize the ultimate bragging rights that went with the victory.

“It was kind of fun,” McIntosh said of competing against his former mates. It was [Johnson’s 23rd] birthday [Saturday], but we had to give him a loss. It’s kind of ironic how things worked out.”

McIntosh finished with 13 points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist, converting six of 10 field-goal tries to earn praise from UCI Coach Pat Douglass for his continued leadership on both ends.

Johnson had six points, six rebounds, one steal, one assist and two blocked shots, though he might have made the game’s most exciting play, skying in the lane to field a high-arching inbound pass and slamming it home to silence the UCI rooters and give Idaho (6-19) a 9-7 lead nearly six minutes into the contest.

Brooks, whom Douglass said was largely contained by the defense of McIntosh, finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. But Brown, who came in averaging a team-best 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, had nine turnovers and was six of 10 from the field.

McIntosh said he would likely await contact from Johnson, before trying to invoke any bragging rights, an eventuality he said would come with no small degree of tact.

“I’ll let him make the first [contact],” McIntosh said. “I don’t want to try to throw anything in his face. We’re both competitors and we both take losses hard. Maybe, down the line, they’ll be some reminiscing about the game.”

McIntosh said he and Johnson led Eaglecrest High in Aurora, Colo. to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs in their senior season.

“But we were upset in the Elite Eight, so I don’t like to think back on that, too much,” McIntosh said.

There was no upset Saturday as the Anteaters (12-14) improved to 9-0 in games played on campus this season.

“We’re at home and, for some reason, this team plays better at home,” said McIntosh, whose Irvine squad finished the first half on a 13-3 run to turn a 17-15 deficit into a 28-20 halftime lead.

Idaho never got closer to six and UCI pushed the lead to 18, before settling for the win in the first of five home games to close out the regular season.

The win also supplied a more pleasant ending than the Anteaters received in a surprising 85-76 Big West Conference loss at UC Riverside Wednesday.

“We had to reestablish ourselves, because we got it handed to us for about 30 minutes at Riverside,” Douglass said. “To come back and play with that type of effort was important.”

Douglass called Saturday’s game a good defensive effort, as Idaho shot 38.8% from the field and committed 21 turnovers.

UCI, led by senior center Darren Fells’ 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals, finished 23 of 49 from the field (46.9%), including making 12 of 22 field-goal tries after halftime (54.5%).

UCI senior Patrick Sanders had 13 points, while junior forward Kevin Bland contributed six points and seven boards, before fouling out.

UCI sophomore point guard Michael Hunter, who played against McIntosh and Johnson at a rival high school in Aurora, had nine points for the winners.

Nonconference

UC Irvine 69, Idaho 55

Idaho – Johnson 6, Kale 2, Crowell 21, Brooks 11, Brown 5, Morris 6, Nagle 2, Simmons 2.

3-pt. goals – Crowell 5, Morris 2.

Fouled out – Kale.

Technicals – None.

UCI – Sanders 13, DeCasas 6, Fells 14, McIntosh 13, Hunter 9, Bland 6, Rembert 5, Lauer 3.

3-pt. goals – Sanders 2, DeCasas 2, Fells 1, Rembert 1.

Fouled out – Bland.

Technicals – Bland 1.

Halftime – UCI, 28-20.

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