Irvine Has Off Night, Loses to Utah State

LOGAN, Utah — As the Utah State fans filed out of the Spectrum on Saturday night, happy with a victory, little children ran onto the court to try the shots UC Irvine missed--layups and free throws.

On a night when Utah State was far from invincible on its 4,688-foot elevation home court, Irvine failed to take advantage and lost, 81-70.

“A layup is a layup,” said Irvine Coach Rod Baker, whose team is 4-13 overall and 2-8 in the Big West Conference. “It’s the first shot you learn how to make when you start playing basketball.”

Utah State (8-11, 5-6) shot 36%, but the Anteaters stooped a little lower, to 34.6%. And it was an especially ugly 34.6%. Irvine missed 13 layups and a total of 28 shots in the lane. The Anteaters also missed 11 of 27 free throws.

Keith Stewart, the Anteaters’ second-leading scorer, failed to reach double figures for the first time in 28 games. He finished with four points on two-of-11 shooting.

Irvine guard Lloyd Mumford scored 16 points, but missed 13 of 19 shots, including four layups. Von Lutzow had his seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds, but he missed 10 of 15, and all six from three-point range.

The Anteaters were without their starting center, Dee Boyer, who was serving a one-game NCAA suspension after being ejected for fighting during Thursday’s victory over Nevada.

Rod Hay led Utah State with 19 points.