New Mexico State Deflects UC Irvine’s Late Chance

UC Irvine’s last and best chance to start Big West Conference play 2-0 was deflected, then picked up by New Mexico State’s Eric Channing Saturday night.

Channing went on to make four free throws to help clinch a 60-56 victory in front of 2,071, thus becoming the only freshman in the Bren Center to pick up experience and a Big West Conference victory.

The Anteaters had to settle for the consolation prize, a little seasoning.

“Three weeks from now, we will be able to win a game like this,” forward Ben Jones said. “Our young guys will have played in some tight games and will be better in them.”

That would mean no obvious passes by freshman point guard Jerry Green. New Mexico State’s Charles Gosa gave Irvine the opportunity to tie the score by fumbling a pass out of bounds with 59 seconds left and the Aggies clinging to a 56-54 lead. Green tried to pass off, but Channing deflected the ball and recovered it.

“Jerry had never been in that situation before,” Irvine Coach Pat Douglass said. “He was coming up the court and was going one-on-one. I decided not to call a timeout. In the future, that won’t be a problem.”

As for the present, Channing was immediately fouled by Green, mistake No. 2.

Channing was 13 for 13 on free throws entering the game. He had already made two when he stepped to the line and sank two more for a 58-54 lead. After a Marek Ondera dunk, Channing made another pair with 21 seconds left.

“I was proud of our defensive effort,” Douglass said. “I thought we were able to do what we tried to do. Inexperience crept up on us.”

It showed in the second half, when Irvine shot 29% and received little from its four freshmen. Green finished with six points and five turnovers. Guard Zamiro Bennem sat and watched, not playing a minute after halftime. Guard Gabe Cagwin was shut out for a second consecutive game. Center Mark Gottschalk had three blocks in the first half, but made one of four shots.

“We really haven’t had any close games like this,” sophomore guard Jason Flowers said. “It’s the first time we’ve had one come down to the wire. I think our young guys learned a lot.”

It has been the freshmen who have had the big moments in Irvine victories this season. But it was “old-timers” Flowers, Jones and guard Malachi Edmond, all sophomores, who kept the game close.

Douglass scrapped some of the on-the-job training even before halftime. Edmond had four points, two assists and two steals in the last five minutes of the first half, fueling a 13-1 run that gave Irvine a 29-23 lead, ending a half of wild momentum swings.

The Anteaters had their best defensive effort, for the first 10 minutes.

Gosa scored 10 seconds into the game. New Mexico State did not score another point for seven minutes, missing 12 consecutive shots. All that was erased, though, when the Aggies went on a 16-0 run for a 22-14 lead. Brad Bestor (17 points) got it started, sinking three consecutive three-pointers.

“I think they got into us defensively and our young guys aren’t physically strong enough right now,” Douglass said.

The old guys had to take over.

Flowers, who scored 13 points in a victory over North Texas Thursday, had his second solid game. He had 10 points, five assists and four steals.

Jones continued to show he can do more than stand and shoot. He had 10 points and a career-high four steals.

“At one point I looked around out there and thought, ‘This is really different,’ ” Flowers said. “I think our experience, having been through the Big West before, helped us. But it was different.”

Irvine led, 47-45, when Gosa burst open down the key and dunked. It started a 9-2 run that gave New Mexico State a 56-49 lead with 1:52 left. Jones then hit a shot and Adam Stetson made two free throws to make it 56-54 with 59 seconds left.

Gosa then turned the ball over, and the Anteaters turned to Green.