Irvine Defeats Northridge to Reach Double Figures

UC Irvine reached double figures in regular-season victories for the first time in the Rod Baker era Wednesday night.

It might be construed as a hollow victory of sorts, an 89-73 rout of a depleted Cal State Northridge team that was playing without two starters. Still, for the Anteater seniors who have suffered alongside Baker over the past four seasons and were playing their final home game--and for the 1,741 victory-starved fans in the Bren Center--it was a welcome respite from a season fraught with disappointment.

“I just tried to have fun,” said senior forward Mark Odsather, who made seven of 10 shots and led Irvine with 18 points. “I’ve just been so stressed out about my own performance and our performance, but tonight I didn’t let it get to me.

“And every time you get a win, it’s a positive step.”

It was a game that began as if neither team cared much about the outcome. Irvine (10-15) shot 31% from the floor but managed to lead by nine, 33-24, at halftime. The Matadors (7-19), with only two players taller than 6 feet 5 available, scored only two baskets inside the lane in the first half.

“I think we came out and played, went after it a little bit,” Baker said. “If it’s true that we were the better team, then we had to make that clear early. Both teams struggled early, but we didn’t ever let it get away.”

The Anteaters missed only three shots in the first 10 minutes of the second half. The game became a rout when freshman Kevin Simmons, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes, made a 10-foot turnaround jumper with 14 minutes 12 seconds left to put Irvine ahead, 50-33.