Cold ‘Eaters drop opener

UCI sinks just 2 of 18 three-pointers in 79-56 loss to George Mason at 2K College Hoops Classic at Wake Forest.WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The UC Irvine men’s basketball team made only 2 of 18 three-point attempts Thursday and was overrun by George Mason, 79-56, in the opening round of the 2K College Hoops Classic at Wake Forest University.

UCI senior guard Ross Schraeder was 2 of 8 from beyond the arc and six other Anteaters were a combined 0 for 10 as UCI opened its season shooting 32.2% from the field (18 of 56).

UCI will play Mississippi Valley State today at 2 p.m. in the consolation game of the tournament’s Winston-Salem regional.

Mississippi Valley State lost to Wake Forest, 78-64, on Thursday.

George Mason hit 10 of 20 three-pointers and shot 54.4% for the game (31 of 57), including 18 of 30 after halftime (60%).

Senior point guard Aaron Fitzgerald led the Anteaters with 11 points and Schraeder had 10. Fitzgerald, who led the Big West Conference in assists a year ago (5.2 per game), had two of UCI’s seven assists against the Patriots. Fitzgerald also had six of the Anteaters’ 15 turnovers.

UCI sophomore Darren Fells had nine points and four rebounds, and junior Nic Campbell came off the bench to post six points and a team-high six rebounds.

George Mason, with five returning starters from a team that -- like UCI -- went 16-13 last season, was paced by Jai Lewis, Folarin Campbell and Tony Skinn.

Lewis was 8 of 9 from the field and 2 of 2 on three-pointers to account for 18 points. He also had 11 rebounds.

Campbell had 17 points and six rebounds, while Skinn added 15 points and a game-high five assists.

Will Thomas led the winners with 12 rebounds.

UCI trailed, 35-23, at halftime and the Patriots opened the second half on an 8-0 run to establish firm command.

When George Mason took a 52-31 lead with 13:17 left, UCI never got any closer.

2K Sports College Hoops Classic

George Mason 79,

UC Irvine 56

Score by Halves