Listen to the game live on KUCI/88.9 FM
UC IRVINE GAME #2
UC Irvine (0-1) vs. San Jose State (0-1)
Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 – 7:00 p.m.
The Event Center (5,000) – San Jose, California
Series Record: UCI leads 26-19
Last Meeting: SJSU won 85-70 (12/4/10 in Irvine)
Radio: KUCI/88.9 FM (Mark Roberts, 18th Season)
'EATERS MEET SPARTANS MONDAY NIGHT: Second-year head coach Russell Turner's UC Irvine basketball team plays its second game in the Bay Area on the season-opening trip, facing San Jose State Monday night.
UCI is coming off a 77-56 loss at No. 24 California Friday night. Sophomore guard Chris McNealy was the only Anteater player in double figures with 14 points.
San Jose State is also looking for its first win of the season after falling on the road, 79-52, to Big West Conference member Cal Poly Saturday afternoon.
IN HIS FATHER'S STEPS: UCI sophomore guard Chris McNealy is the son of former San Jose State standout Chris McNealy. The elder McNealy was a two-time, All-PCAA (Big West) player for the Spartans in 1982 and 1983. He scored 20 points each in a pair of wins over UCI in 1983.
HOME OPENER VS. WEBER STATE: UCI's home opener is against Weber State Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader with the women's team. Weber State has played in a postseason tournament each of the last three seasons. The Wildcats opened their season with a 109-50 win over Northern New Mexico Friday and play at Utah State Tuesday night.
RECAP FROM FRIDAY NIGHT: UCI outscored No. 24 California in the second half but it was the opening 20 minutes that caused the Anteaters difficulties as the Bears won 77-56 in the season opener for both teams at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley Friday night.
Allen Crabbe led Cal with 24 points, scoring 16 in the second half. Jorge Gutierrez, a first team All-Pac 10 selection last season, scored all 11 of his points in the opening 20 minutes as Cal raced to a 48-23 lead at halftime.
Sophomore guard Chris McNealy led UCI with 14 points and added two assists and two steals. He hit 5 of 9 field goals in the game and grabbed three rebounds.
Freshman center Will Davis II added eight points and nine boards while Michael Wilder and Collin Woods added six points apiece with each hitting a pair of threes in the second half. Woods recorded two steals and Marcus Bradley also scored six points and snared two boards.
Daman Starring had five points and three assists with Adam Folker scoring four points and grabbing three boards. Mike Best also scored four points for the 'Eaters, who had a 33-29 scoring advantage over the Bears in the final 20 minutes.
The Anteaters cut the 25-point halftime deficit to 13 points at 63-50 on a pair of free throws from McNealy with 8:06 left.
Cal went up 67-52 on a free throw by Brandon Smith with 6:00 remaining before McNealy hit a jumper to pull UCI within 13 again at 67-54 with 3:50 left.
The Bears went on a 10-2 run from that point to record the 21-point victory.
Cal shot 45.9 percent from the field and UCI 39.3 percent. The Bears, who outrebounded the Anteaters, 47-28, had 14 turnovers to UCI's 12 but the 'Eaters had just four miscues in the second half.
UCI had 15 assists in the game, 10 coming in the second half.
ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE: Coach George Nessman's Spartans were 17-16 overall last season, including an 85-70 win over UCI at the Bren Center (12/4/10).
Sophomore guard Keith Shamburger is the Spartans' leading returning scorer, averaging 12.4 points last season.
Senior forward Wil Carter averaged 9.8 points and 8.0 rebounds in 2010-11.
The Spartans lost their season opener, 79-52, at Cal Poly Saturday afternoon. Shamburger led the Spartans with 13 points and Carter added 12.
San Jose State has defeated UCI in the last three meetings. Monday night is the 46th meeting in the series between the schools.
______________________________________________________________________
For UC Irvine Athletics ticket information, please call (949) 824-5000 or e-mail athletics.tickets@uci.edu. For more information click here.
For information on how you can help support UC Irvine Athletics, please call (949) 824-6933 or e-mail aaf@uci.edu. For additional information, click here.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
