IRVINE, Calif. – It came down to the final seconds of the game with the UC Irvine men's basketball team falling just short of a comeback in a 62-61 Big West Conference loss to Hawai'i at Bren Events Center Thursday evening.
 
The loss snaps a five game winning streak for the Anteaters, dropping them to 13-15 overall and 8-4 in the Big West. UCI is now tied with UC Davis (17-9, 8-4) for second place in the conference standings. UC Santa Barbara remains first with a 9-2 record in Big West play.   
 
Lackluster shooting from behind the three-point line doomed the Anteaters, hitting only 3-of-20, 15 percent, their lowest of the year.
 
UCI trailed for most of the game, taking its only lead with just 5:00 minutes remaining thanks to a jumper from John Edgar Jr. to go up, 56-55. The Rainbow Warriors' Mike Thomas went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to give the visitors the slight edge they needed to seal the victory. Tommy Rutherford made a layup with 36 seconds remaining to make it a 62-61 game, but the 'Eaters ran out of time.  
 
The Anteaters defense stepped up in the second half forcing the Rainbow Warriors to just 12.5 percent (3-24) from the floor and 0-for-8 from behind the arc. However, Hawai'i remained solid from the free throw line, making 20 of its 24 shots, 83.3 percent for the night, including six in the last three minutes to seal the win.
 
UCI committed six turnovers in the first half that led to seven points for the visitors. The Rainbow Warriors shot 44.4 percent (4-9) from behind the arc while the 'Eaters only made two of their 11 three-point attempts, shooting just 18.2 percent. UCI never led, but tied the game three times and kept Hawai'i within single digits for most of the first half. The Rainbow Warriors led by as much as 10 after back-to-back three pointers with 4:59 showing on the clock, however the Anteaters answered using a five-point run to make it a 32-27 game with just over two minutes remaining. A layup from Hawai'i's Zigmars Raimo put the visitors up, 39-32, heading into the locker rooms.
 
Three Anteaters finished in double-digit scoring including Tommy Rutherford (13 points), Evan Leonard (11) and Eyassu Worku (10). Rutherford also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and had two blocks. Max Hazzard dished out four assists while notching eight points. UCI was uncharacteristically outrebounded by the Rainbow Warriors, 37-36. The Anteaters also turned the ball over 11 times compared to Hawai'i's eight. 
 
UCI shot 42.3 percent (22-52) overall while holding Hawai'i to just 35.2 percent (19-54) from the floor. Both teams scored 26 points in the paint.
 
Sheriff Drammeh and Gibson Johnson led the Rainbow Warriors with 13 points apiece while Mike Thomas had 10. Thomas also grabbed a team-best seven rebounds while Drew Buggs pulled down six.
 
The Anteaters will continue conference play on the road at Cal Poly Saturday, February 17, at 7:00 p.m. It will be the second meeting between the two teams as UCI earned an 80-73 win over the Mustangs at the Bren Events Center in January.
 
NOTES: UCI is 2-10 when trailing at the half … UC Irvine's seven-point deficit at the half was the most in Big West play this season … Leonard recorded his team-leading 22^nd game with double-figure scoring ... Rutherford recorded his eighth consecutive game with double-digit scoring … Rutherford led the team in scoring for the eighth time this season … 15 percent (3-20) is the lowest three-point percentage of the season for the 'Eaters.