IRVINE, Calif. --- Junior guard Daman Starring scored a career-high 21 points but UC Irvine fell to Weber State, 80-72, in a non-conference game at the Bren Center Saturday.

Starring connected on 3 of 6 threes, was 6 of 8 from the free-throw line, and added two assists for the 'Eaters, who fell to 0-3 on the season.

Juniors Michael Wilder and Derick Flowers added nine points apiece with freshman guard Aaron Wright scoring eight points and snaring seven rebounds.  Flowers, who was 6 of 6 from the foul line, scored seven of his points in the first half, including five in a 39-second span.  Wilder had four assists and tied his career high with three steals.

Freshmen Will Davis II and Collin Woods contributed five points apiece off the bench.  Davis pulled down six rebounds and Woods three.

Junior guard Damian Lillard scored 27 points to lead Big Sky Conference favorite Weber State (3-0).

Lillard was 8 of 8 from the free-throw line, and added eight rebounds and four assists as the Wildcats improved to 3-0.  Scott Bamforth scored 18 points while Kyle Bullinger had 11 points and 16 rebounds for Weber State.

Lillard scored 13 of his points in the first half as Weber State took a 37-32 lead at the break.

UCI gained its first lead of the night at 48-46 on a pair of free throws from Flowers with 12:03 remaining in the game.

Chris McNealy hit two free throws with 5:44 left for a 59-57 UCI lead before the Wildcats went on a 16-3 run, capped by a three from Lillard, to go up 73-62 with 1:38 remaining.

Weber State hit 7 of 8 free throws in the final 54 seconds to seal the victory.

The Wildcats outrebounded UCI 44-39 and each team committed 14 turnovers.  Weber State hit 26 of 31 free throws, including 20 of 23 in the second half.  UCI was 22 of 34 from the foul line.  Both teams were 8 of 22 from three-point range.

"To bring that game down to the wire against Weber State, a good team that I have great respect for, is an improvement for us, but we have to learn how to finish games," UCI head coach Russell Turner said.

"I am proud of my guys, they show good spirit, have worked hard and improved in the last week.  Our focus will remain on getting better.

"I thought we did a good job on Lillard but give him credit, he rose up and hit some big shots.

"I'm really pleased with Derick Flowers.  He comes in and gives us great energy off the bench," Turner added.

UCI competes in the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage Thursday through Saturday.  The 'Eaters open against Southern Miss Thursday night at 9:30 PST.

______________________________________________________________________

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.