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SoCalHoops College News

Pump California All-Stars Lose
In Overtime To UCI--(Nov. 5, 1999)

We didn't see it, but we read about it in the LA Times and the Orange County Register. UC Irvine, in its first exhibition game of the season managed to pull out a squeaker in overtime, defeating the "California All-Stars" 86-83 last night at the Bren Center. Here's what the LA Times' Chris Foster had to say about the game:

UC Irvine Wins in Overtime

By CHRIS FOSTER

UC Irvine went down this road so many times last season. A tight game. Time running out. Only this time, the destination was different. Irvine wound up beating the California All-Stars, 86-83, in overtime Thursday in the Bren Center. OK, so maybe it wasn't one to put on the resume, but the Anteaters felt it was worth noting. A year ago, they lost six Big West Conference games by five points or fewer and finished with a 6-20 record. The Anteaters, led by guard Jerry Green (15 points, seven assists), came from five points down in the final three minutes of regulation. In overtime, Ben Jones sank a three-pointer to start an 8-2 run in the last three minutes. "We lost a lot of games like that last year," said forward Marek Ondera, who had 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Orange County Register's Gage Harter was a bit more charitable and had some additional details on the game:

UCI staves off last season's demons

November 5, 1999

By GAGE HARTER
The Orange County Register

IRVINE — The final outcome of UC Irvine's exhibition basketball game Thursday against the California West All-Stars was of no consequence. UCI should have won, and it did, 86-83, in overtime at the Bren Center.

What is of consequence is the way the young Anteaters handled themselves down the stretch, and the tenacity they displayed when it would have been easy to remember the close losses of last season. "I think we know what to do now in those situations," said point guard Jerry Green, who knows too well of UCI's six Big West Conference losses by five points or fewer last season.

Green and the Anteaters twice rallied from deficits in the closing minutes. UCI trailed 69-66 with two minutes to go in regulation before spurting to a 74-71 lead. But Jimmy Carroll's three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left sent the game into overtime.

The All-Stars scored the first basket in overtime and appeared to gain the momentum. But UCI outscored the All-Stars 12-5 in the final four minutes on hustle and desire. "It's a great feeling when you tough it out and you do the things that win you games," said UCI forward Marek Ondera, who finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds. "Things have been 10 times better than they were at this time last year. I'm feeling optimistic."

He should. UCI showed it has a go-to guy down the stretch in Green. The sophomore scored six points in the final two minutes of regulation and hit a spinning layup in overtime. All five starters scored in double figures, led by Green's 16 points. Sean Jackson added 14 points and 10 rebounds.