Men’s Basketball: ‘Eaters seize early command

Preseason Big West Conference favorite Long Beach State has developed a penchant for front-loading its men’s basketball schedule with recognized powers such as North Carolina, UCLA and Louisville.

But the way host UC Irvine performed in an 82-67 conference-opening win over the 49ers on Wednesday, it’s the Anteaters who may be better-suited to facing the sport’s blue bloods in the NCAA Tournament.

UCI (8-9), picked to finish second in the Big West preseason poll, smothered its Black and Blue rival with strong first-half defense, and executed with precision on offense to establish itself as the clear front-runner for its third regular-season conference title in the last four seasons.

Ioannis Dimakopoulos made four straight second-half three-point attempts, a career-best from beyond the arc, on his way to 18 points to pace a balanced scoring attack for the winners.

Senior guard Luke Nelson, who missed the first 15 games of the season with a hamstring injury, had 16 points, while senior guard Jaron Martin chipped in 12 for the ‘Eaters.

Long Beach State (5-11), which dropped both regular-season meetings with UCI last season only to knock the ‘Eaters out of the conference tournament with a semifinal triumph, shot a mere 36% in the first half (nine for 25) and made just one of 14 three-point tries in the game (7.1%).

UCI, with Dimakopoulos stroking set shots from distance, made eight of 21 from threedom and finished 29 for 55 from the field (52.7%).

The 7-foot-2 Dimakopoulos was seven for eight from the field.

UCI posted a 36-27 rebounding advantage and compiled a 26-10 advantage in bench scoring.

“I’m excited about the win,� said UCI Coach Russell Turner, whose team has won eight of its last 11 against the 49ers. “I’m excited about our offensive performance. We’ve been struggling on the offensive end a lot. But [Nelson, a first-team all-conference performer last season who is averaging a team-best 16 points in two games since returning] makes a big difference for us.�

Turner also acknowledged the absence of Long Beach State standout Gabe Levin, a 6-7 junior averaging 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds who sat out with an injury.

“It was a big deal that Levin was not able to play,� Turner said. “He is a really important player for them, so we had some advantage tonight. We know just the same way Long Beach does that [the 49ers] are going to be contending for the championship of this conference, just as we hope to do. I thought tonight we held serve. We’re 1-0 [in conference].�

Freshman Tommy Rutherford had nine points and seven rebounds in 16 reserve minutes, while sophomore Jonathan Galloway had eight points and seven boards for the winners.

UCI’s superior depth was a factor as just one Anteater played more than 26 minutes (Martin), while four Long Beach starters played at least 35 minutes apiece.

UCI used a 9-2 run to take a 15-13 lead midway through the first half and held a 41-27 advantage at halftime.

The Anteaters led by as many as 19, but Long Beach used an 11-0 run to close to within 55-47 with 11:01 left.

Back-to-back Dimakopoulos threes within a 55-second span, however, helped UCI push the lead to 63-51, and it cruised to the victory.

“We had a good defensive game plan, which was made stronger with Levin’s absence,� Turner said. “I thought we made some key defensive adjustments throughout the first half that strengthened us.�

Four Long Beach starters combined for 57 points, led by junior guard Evan Payne, a Loyola Marymount transfer who had 19.

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Big West Conference

UC Irvine 82, Long Beach State 67

LBSU – Prince 12, Riggins 0, Payne 19, Bibbins 13, Blackwell 13, Yussef 8, L. Jackson 2.

3-pt. goals – Payne 1.

Fouled out – Yussef.

Technicals – None.

UCI – Galloway 8, Smith 2, Dimakopoulos 18, Nelson 16, Martin 12, Rutherford 9, Worku 7, Rivers 6, Greene 4.

3-pt. goals – Dimakopoulos 4, Rivers 2, Nelson 1, Worku 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – 41-27, UCI.