Keefe Keeps Anteaters in First

IRVINE —  Guard Brian Keefe’s biggest contribution in the last two weeks was talking UC Irvine Coach Rod Baker into letting the team wear the special gold uniforms that helped inspire the victory over Nevada Las Vegas and propelled the Anteaters into a tie for first place.

Irvine went on the road and won two more games to take sole possession of first in the Big West, but a slumping Keefe, the sophomore captain who had averaged 16 points in Irvine’s first eight games this season, totaled only 17 in the two games.

Keefe rebounded with style and panache Thursday night, however, keying a 74-62 victory over UC Santa Barbara with a career-high 29 points in front of 3,446 in the Bren Center. The Anteaters (10-6 overall, 7-2 in the Big West) won their fifth game in a row for the first time since 1984.

Santa Barbara (9-9, 6-4) came into Irvine in second place and the Gauchos probably figured they had a good chance to take over the top spot, given the outcome of the first meeting between the teams, when they trounced Irvine, 84-66.

But Keefe and the Anteaters gave early notice Thursday that things might be different. Keefe, who had missed 28 of his last 38 three-point shots, popped in a three 30 seconds into the game, added a driving, fall-away five-footer and a double-pump reverse layup in the next 4 1/2 minutes and Irvine was ahead, 11-2.

The Anteaters, who led by as many as 17, never trailed.

“If you’re going to let Brian run like that, then Raimonds [Miglinieks] is going to find him and Brian is going to finish,” Baker said. “They’re as good a connection as there is in sports.”

They made like Joe Montana to Jerry Rice with a nearly full-court bomb that flew inches above a defender’s outstretched fingers and nestled into Keefe’s hands as he leaped for a layup. Then they celebrated the return of Magic Johnson as Miglinieks bounced a 50-foot pass through traffic and Keefe sliced in for another layin.

“I’ve played and practiced with Raimonds for two years now but he still amazes me sometimes,” Keefe said, shaking his head and smiling. “That pass went through five people. I couldn’t believe it was going to get to me, but there it was, right in my hands.”

Miglinieks, No. 2 in the nation in assists, had eight at halftime, and Irvine had a 33-23 lead. But the Anteaters gained the advantage as much with defense as they did with spectacular flashes of offense.

“We came out determined to guard somebody this time, which we didn’t do in the first game,” Baker said. “We weren’t going to let them have as many easy threes and we wanted to establish ourselves as an interior team. We have a height advantage and we used it some tonight.”

Santa Barbara shot only 30% from the field in the first half and only 36% for the game. Forward Lelan McDougal and guard Danee Prince combined to score 36 points and make six of 12 three-pointers for the Gauchos.

The Gauchos trimmed the lead to four, 57-53, with 6 minutes 27 seconds remaining, but Keefe hit two three-pointers in the next minute to push the Anteater lead back up to eight.

“I guess I hit a couple in a row early tonight and just got into a rhythm,” Keefe said. “I didn’t ever really lose my confidence in my shot, I just keep on shooting, that’s my job. But, yeah, it feels really good to contribute in a big-time game for first place.”