For the third straight game, now, Utah State University came close, but when it came time to deliver the killing blow it missed.
Saturday, after outscoring the University of California-Irvine 30-13 at one point in the second half, the Aggies fell behind at the end to lose 80-75 to the Anteaters.This was the third straight loss for USU, the first two coming on overtime loses to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the University of California-Fullerton. The Aggies are now 11-8 overall and 5-5 in the Big West Conference. The victory was the second straight after 11 consecutive losses for the Anteaters.
It was Keith Stewart's three-point play with 50.3 seconds remaining put Irvine ahead for good.
Stewart made a layup, was fouled by Nathan Wickizer, and made the free throw to give the Anteaters a 72-70 lead.
It was Wichizer fifth foul. Earlier, the Aggies' starting center, Carlito DaSilva, had fouled out.
"When DaSilva went out it didn't hurt us so much, but when Wichizer went out we didn't have an inside game anymore. They started hitting and we couldn't get going offensively. We became tentative and missed on some big plays," USU coach Kohn Smith said after the game.
"We played a great second half and we were in position to win. We just couldn't get one to go down for us at a crucial period in the game."
With the score 70-69 with 50 seconds to go, Stewart hit his three-point shot. The Aggies then started to foul. Over the next 42 seconds Irvine hit 10 straight from the charity line.
Jeff Von Lutzow made six foul shots without a miss in the final 32.6 seconds to keep UC Irvine safely ahead.
Von Lutzow finished with 19 points to lead the Anteaters (5-16, 2-10). Stewart had 15 points.
Malloy Nesmith led Utah State (11-8, 5-5) with 18 points and nine assists. Kendall Youngblood had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Aggies.
UC Irvine led by as many as 13 points in the first half before settling for a 39-30 halftime lead. Utah State outscored the Anteaters 30-13 in the first 11 minutes of the second half to go ahead 60-52.
However, the Anteaters outscored the Aggies 8-2 to make it 62-60 in favor of Utah State and the game was close the rest of the way.
While the Aggies hit nine more field goals (29-20), UC Irvine made up for it from the foul line. It was 32-of-41 while Utah State was 14-of-20. The Anteaters outrebounded the Aggies 37-24.
The Aggies next play New Mexico State on Monday in an ESPN game that begins at 10 a.m. MST.