UCI Reaches Defensive Goal in Exhibition
IRVINE — UC Irvine played an exhibition basketball game Tuesday against Trencin, a Czechoslovakian club team that was winless in six West Coast games. Since Trencin had been beaten by an average of 45 points, Irvine set a goal to do something no other team had done: Hold Trencin to less than 50 points.
The defensive-minded Anteaters did it in an 81-49 victory in front of 558 at the Bren Center, but only after Trencin’s Ivan Mikusovic missed the front end of a one-and-one with 44 seconds remaining.
“We accomplished our goal, but nobody feels good about it,” said Coach Rod Baker, preparing for his first season at Irvine.
Baker said Irvine played well “in spots,” forcing 20 first-half turnovers and taking a 47-23 halftime lead. But Irvine’s offense sputtered for almost 10 minutes after halftime, as the Anteaters scored only two field goals in that stretch.
Gerald McDonald scored 16 points for Irvine, Craig Marshall had 14 and David Hollaway added 13. Josef Durcek led Trencin with 20.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
