NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- Junior point guard Derick Flowers scored a career-high 21 points to lead UC Irvine over Cal State Northridge, 71-62, in the Big West Conference opener for both teams at the Matadome Thursday night.
Flowers, whose previous career high was nine points, hit 4 of 5 threes and added three assists for the Anteaters (4-9, 1-0 Big West), who went 4-3 in December.
Michael Wilder hit 9 of 9 free throws and added 12 points while Adam Folker and Daman Starring scored 10 points each. Folker snared a game-high nine rebounds for UCI, which outrebounded the Matadors, 42-37.
Chris McNealy scored seven points (all in the second half) and led UCI with six assists as the Anteaters had 18 assists on 21 baskets in the game. McNealy had six rebounds as did Wilder and Will Davis II. Davis scored six points off the bench and Mike Best five.
Stephan Hicks led Cal State Northridge (3-8, 0-1) with 17 points, Aqeel Quinn scored 15 and Josh Greene 14.
UCI was up by as many as 22 points in the first half and led 43-24 at the break on the strength of 10 points each by Flowers and Starring. The Anteaters hit 6 of 13 threes in the opening 20 minutes.
Northridge, with Quinn scoring 13 of his points in the second half, cut UCI's lead to 55-52 on a three by Vinnie McGhee with 6:33 remaining.
The Anteaters answered with a 7-0 run, including a three by Flowers, to go up 62-52 with 3:22 left and UCI hit 9 of 10 free throws in the final 1:35 to preserve the victory.
UCI shot 42 percent from the field and Northridge 34.4 percent. The Anteaters hit 21 of 28 free throws, including 10 of 14 in the second half.
UCI had seven steals in the game with Wilder and McNealy recording two each. The Anteaters committed 16 turnovers and the Matadors 12.
"Derick Flowers was clutch. We don't win the game without him playing that way," UCI head coach Russell Turner said.
"I think our guys lost some focus to begin the second half and Northridge had something to do with that, but I'm really excited with how we competed tonight. Our guys came ready to play and I am pleased with how they met this challenge. I'm proud of them," Turner added.
The 'Eaters host Long Beach State in a Big West and "Black & Blue" Rivalry game Monday night at 7:00 in the Bren Center.
______________________________________________________________________
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.
