Jones Vanishes at Wrong Time for Anteaters
It was only a brief moment in a game, but maybe a costly one.
UC Irvine junior forward Ben Jones committed a bonehead foul, knocking Boise State’s Abe Jackson to the floor with 12 minutes left in the game Saturday. Anteater Coach Pat Douglass replaced Jones immediately.
Jones was unhappy with himself, the referee and with being pulled, and said so to the bench before leaving the court. Douglass, the boss, barked at Jones as he went by.
Jones, who had played well in the first half, played only four minutes in the second half. Irvine lost, 53-52.
In the two-plus seasons since the 6-foot-7 Jones came to Irvine, there have been such moments. Jones, it seems, could have his mail delivered to Douglass’ seemingly 1,600-square-foot dog house.
This time, though, it happened during a game. It was subtle, and fans might have missed it. But it was there.
The question is, did it also contribute to Irvine losing the game?
Consider:
In the first half, Jones devoured Jackson, Boise State’s leading scorer. Jackson had no points and only two shots at halftime.
The 6-7 Jackson scored 17 points in the second half, some off Jones. But Jones was not around when Jackson hit two key shots, a three-pointer for a 47-42 lead and an 18-footer for a 49-46 lead.
This was Jones’ second consecutive start after coming off the bench all season. He had a nine-point, five-assist, four-steal performance in a 71-67 victory over Idaho on Thursday.
Jones had only two rebounds in that game, but one was huge. With less than two minutes left, he out-muscled Idaho’s Devon Ford, who until then seemed to have carte blanche on the offensive boards.
After that game, Douglass handed out compliments with an eyedropper.
On Jones starting: “We can do that against some teams,” Douglass said.
On Jones’ four steals: “Four steals, you don’t expect that from Ben,” Douglass said.
Jones followed the Idaho game with 18 solid minutes in the first half Saturday. He scored only two points, but had a team-high three assists, helping the offense stay in motion. By the end of the game, he still had a team-high three assists.
None of this should be too surprising. Jones, the first recruit Douglass signed, has had good games in the past. He has also had terrible nights.
Jones, who started 42 of 53 games the last two seasons, isn’t the quickest or strongest player on the roster. Yet, the Anteaters always get an effort from him.
This season, his role has been greatly reduced.
With more talent in the program, Jones wasn’t needed as much. But Jones has made 12 of 16 shots, including five of seven three-point tries, in four Big West Conference games.
“I knew I wasn’t going to get as many minutes this season, but I was going to make the most of the minutes I got,” Jones said after the Idaho game. “I was going to play hard and do whatever was needed.”
In the second half Saturday, he wasn’t needed.
HOT LEGS
Irvine women’s soccer Coach Marine Cano, a former professional goalkeeper, recently played in an alumni game for the Hollywood Stars--one of many former Cano teams.
His celebrity teammate? Singer Rod Stewart.
Famous or not, Cano wasn’t about to allow Stewart to shirk his duties.
“The other team had a free kick and I saw Rod slipping up field,” Cano said. “I yelled, ‘Hey, Roddy, you going to help us out back here?’ He turned and gave me a Maggie May stare.”
Stewart later autographed albums for Cano’s wife.
HARMON MOVING UP
Cal State Fullerton’s Ike Harmon has moved up to 12th among the school’s career scoring leaders. Bruce Bowen (1990-1993) is 11th with 1,155 points.
Harmon, who has 1,057 points, can advance several more spots before the regular season ends if he continues at his present pace.
If Harmon maintains his 16.7 average in the final 12 games, he would be close to Cedric Ceballos, who is seventh with 1,284 points in two seasons (1988-90).
Leon Wood is the Titans’ all-time leader with 1,876 points in three seasons (1981-84).
OWENS HONORED
Former Cal State Fullerton baseball player Ryan Owens recently received the Association of Professional Baseball Players’ Clark Award as Southern California’s top first-year professional player for 1999.
Owens, a third baseman who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, batted .398 in the first month of his pro career at High Desert before being promoted to El Paso in the Texas League. He batted .319 at El Paso.
Owens, a Titan regular for three seasons, played at Sonora High and is a former member of Team USA.
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Staff writer Lon Eubanks contributed to this story.
