Feb. 16, 2011

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Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific men's basketball team defeated UC Irvine 75-51 on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at the Alex G. Spanos Center. The Tigers improved to 15-10 overall, 7-5 in Big West Conference action. The Anteaters dropped to 11-16 and 4-9 in league play.

Senior Sam Willard (Pierre, S.D.) scored Pacific's first points of the game, as the Tigers fell behind to the Anteaters 5-3 in the opening minutes of the game. Following a jumper by senior Demetrece Young (Oklahoma City, Okla.) tied the game at 5-5, an 8-0 run by UC Irvine put the Anteaters ahead 14-5 with 15:25 remaining. With the Anteaters leading 18-12, the Tigers took control with a 19-2 run the flipped the score to 31-20 with 3:33 remaining. The run was highlighted by seven points from sophomore Allen Huddleston (Merced, Calif.), who put Pacific ahead for the first time in the game (20-18), and treys from Young, Willard, senior Terrell Smith (Federal Way, Wash.). The Tigers had 11 assists in the first half on 14 baskets, holding a 33-25 advantage at the break.

Huddleston scored five points in a 12-3 run to open the second half, as the Tigers took a 45-28 lead. A three by UC Irvine's Wilder cut the Tiger advantage to 14 (45-31) with 17:31 left on the clock, but the Anteaters would not get any closer to the lead. Pacific took a 20-plus point lead (53-32) for the first time in the game after consecutive threes from Huddleston and Young. A 6-2 run brought U.C. Irvine to within 16 with 5:39 left in regulation, but the Tigers would close the game with a jumper from Kelly to top a 12-4 run that secured the 75-51 victory.

All five Tiger starters scored in double figures for the first time this season. Huddleston led the team with 20 points, hitting four three-pointers. Willard added his 16th double-double in 26 games with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Smith scored a season-high 13 points and collected eight boards. Senior Nyika Williams (Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) scored 12, while Young add 10 points and eight assists.

The Tigers ended the game with 11 three-pointers, hitting 11-of-26 from the perimeter. Pacific outrebounded the Anteaters 40-28 and accumulated 24 assists to UC Irvine's 14. The Tigers shot 51.7 percent from the floor (57.1 percent in the second half) and held UCI to 30.9 shooting for the game. Pacific scored 32 of its 75 points in the paint.

The Tigers are next in action on Saturday, Feb. 19 against Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Okla. The game is slated for a 7:00 pm (CT) tipoff. Listen live at www.pacifictigers.com.