For one night, it was almost like old times in the Big West. Not quite the same, but it certainly was reminiscent of some fun days for the conference.
UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara met in a showdown for first place in the conference Thursday night, playing one of the latest games of the evening and on national television on ESPNU. It harkened back to when late nights once were a domain the Big West was master of, when it furnished plenty of terrific games from the late 1980s through much of the 90s as the third game on ESPN’s Big Monday package.
UCSB’s Thunderdome was host to a number of those contests, with its rabid, occasionally not-so-well-behaved fans becoming a favorite of the cable network. It played host again to this one, and though the gathering wasn’t as rowdy as those of yesteryear, it was the site of a terrific regular season game where UC Irvine earned a big 66-62 overtime win over the Gauchos in an every-possession-counts defensive struggle.
After the Anteaters got off to an early nine-point lead in the first eight minutes, the game was tight the rest of the way with neither team leading by more than six points. The final 5:55 of regulation in particular saw neither lead by more than two points at any time, and UC Irvine answered three times late after UCSB hit big baskets to go ahead by a bucket.
Max Hazzard has become known for making big shots at Irvine, and he hit a pair of three-pointers in overtime to get the Anteaters an edge, but ultimate dirty-work player Jonathan Galloway also was huge with four offensive rebounds in the session. UC Santa Barbara still had a chance to tie or take the lead in the last minute, but Hazzard’s two free throws with 13 seconds left iced it, and Galloway’s blocked shot on a three-point attempt just before the buzzer put the exclamation mark on the win.
For those looking for 90 points and shots flying anytime, anywhere, this wasn’t the game for them. For those who appreciate defense and enjoy the suspense of wondering who might be able to break free and make a move in an evenly matched contest, it was a gem, reminiscent of the month of March.
UC Irvine is now 18-5 overall and at 6-1 in the Big West holds a one-game lead over surging Cal State Fullerton, with UCSB and Hawaii 1 1/2 games behind. The Anteaters have had a fine season, including wins at Texas A&M and Saint Mary’s. The resume has few true blots (decisive losses to Utah State and Butler aside) for a team that struggles at times on offense but is balanced, has a ton of size and depth and rebounds and defends well.
The Big West and late night games go together like peanut butter and chocolate. It wasn’t Monday night, and the fan gathering, while loud, wasn’t like the old days. (The student turnout at this game appeared abysmal on TV-come on folks, you’ve got a good team on your campus.) The sport sure could do a lot worse than to feature more games like this, though.
Side Dishes:
- Is it possible for a team to have a 21-1 record, be nationally ranked and to still be doing so quietly? Houston seems to be proving that it is. The Cougars held off Temple 73-66 to win again, and defense was again the story as Houston held the Owls to 34.3% from the field. It’s not always pretty, and certainly there are questions about the strength of the American Athletic Conference, but it’s getting to be time to ask if the Cougars just might be Final Four material. It may sound ridiculous, but like Loyola Chicago last year, Houston is rock-solid on defense and has some shooters outside who can get hot. Houston also is tougher than tough, has depth to compete inside, and a number of players can rise up and get some buckets on any given night. Dajon Jarreau was key in this one with 14 points plus 12 boards off the bench.
- Gonzaga and BYU have played a number of good games in the WCC in recent years. Last night was not one of them, as the Bulldogs rolled to a 93-63 win on the road Provo. The Zags shot 58.7%-on the road. This team is an offensive machine.
- Purdue escaped at Penn State, getting to overtime and then pulling away there for a 99-90 victory. Carsen Edwards exploded for 38 points, making eight three-pointers and the tying layup with five seconds left in regulation, preventing a disaster after the Nittany Lions had come back from 17 down to take the lead. Ryan Cline added six more triples as the Boilermakers made 16 of 29 from apparently not-so-deep. Purdue was outrebounded by nine, concerning again about the team’s play up front, but 19 free throws made out of 21 helped save the day.
- The Pac-12’s bumbling season is still capable of providing entertainment. Arizona State and Arizona proved as much last night, with the Sun Devils outlasting their rivals 95-88 in overtime. The teams traded blows but ASU held on with Remy Martin scoring 31 and Zylan Cheatham adding 11 points and 22 rebounds. Arizona State needed this one, especially at home, while increasingly it is looking like auto bid or bust for the Wildcats, who have missed just two NCAA Tournaments in the last 35 years.
- Still rolling in the Southern Conference: Wofford and UNC Greensboro. The Terriers had to work for a 76-67 win at Mercer. Wofford made just 11 of 30 shots inside the three-point line but 11 of 24 from outside it, with Fletcher Magee (23 points) and Nathan Hoover (18) again doing much of the damage. Meanwhile, UNCG leveled VMI 93-66, shooting a steamy 58.1% and reaching the 20-win mark. The Spartans are now 20-3 overall and 9-1 in the SoCon, a game behind undefeated Wofford.
- It looked good on paper, and the Conference USA matchup between Texas-San Antonio and Western Kentucky was all one could’ve expected. Western outlasted UTSA 96-88 in overtime, with the Hilltoppers’ balance winning out over the Roadrunners’ two-man scoring operation. Charles Bassey posted up 22 points and 18 rebounds, while UTSA’s Jhivvan Jackson scored 46-including eight three-pointers-and Keaton Wallace added 26 including seven triples. Wow. Also in C-USA, Old Dominion upended North Texas 72-61 even with leading scorer Ahmad Caver getting just six points. That’s the type of depth that gives ODU a chance to do some good things in March. The Monarchs at 7-3 in league now lead a group of four teams right behind them at 6-3, and that doesn’t even include Western Kentucky lurking at 5-4.
- One more from Conference USA, where Jon Elmore added to the individual scoring outbursts of the night, scoring a career-high 44 as Marshall held off Texas-El Paso 91-86.
- Central Florida earned a gotta-have-it win in the American, holding off Connecticut 73-67. A 23-4 advantage in points from the bench was huge for UCF.
- Perhaps the team to beat in the Ohio Valley Conference isn’t Belmont or Murray State but…Jacksonville State? The Gamecocks took it to Belmont twice already this year, and last night they drilled Murray 88-68, burning the Racers’ defense for 56.3% shooting. Marlon Hunter scored 24 and Jason Burnell is a hoss on the glass, and he finished with 21 points and 17 boards. Ja Morant totaled 22 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists for Murray State, but received little help.
- This morning, Phil Kasiecki and Ted Sarandis teamed up for another podcast on Hoopville, which you can find here.
- Finally, good to have Paul Borden chipping in with another piece at Hoopville, where he wrote about Miami (Fla.) trying to move on without Dewan Hernandez.
Tonight’s Menu: The schedule starts to pick up a hair on Fridays this month with the Ivy League schedule kicking into gear.
- The night starts early with Pennsylvania at Cornell for a TV date (5 p.m. Eastern, ESPNU). It’s actually the first of two in the Ivies, as it is followed by a big one with Yale at Harvard (7 p.m., ESPNU).
- Just half an hour later, there’s a game in the Summit League as North Dakota travels to that Division I outpost of Macomb, Ill. (it’s really out there; we’ve been there) to face Western Illinois. This one was originally scheduled for Thursday but was pushed back a day due to travel issues with the massively cold weather in the Upper Midwest.
- Another Big Ten Friday night doubleheader starts with Michigan at Iowa (7 p.m., FS1). This should be fascinating to see if the Hawkeyes can get the pace up at home. Later, Maryland is at Wisconsin (9 p.m., FS1), and Ethan Happ against Bruno Fernando is a must-see event.
- Davidson and St. Bonaventure have had some entertaining battles in recent years, and they meet again. (7 p.m., ESPN2). The Wildcats are hanging right around the top of the Atlantic 10, but don’t count out the Bonnies, who are 4-3 and won their last two away from Olean.
- There’s a massive matchup in the MAC, where Buffalo is on TV again and on the road again, and the opponent is Bowling Green, which just took its first conference loss to Miami (Ohio) but sits just half a game behind the Bulls in the MAC East. (7 p.m., CBSSN)
- One other TV game on the night is in the Horizon League, where Wright State is at Illinois-Chicago (9 p.m., ESPNU). The first game between these two this season got a bit chippy with UIC winning on a Travell Washington three-pointer to beat the overtime buzzer. The Raiders may be starting to hit their stride, though, having won four straight to move into second in the league.
Have a great Friday and a terrific weekend.
Twitter: @HoopvilleAdam
