USC tops UCI 91-56 in non-conference game to improve record to 4-1 overall

UC Irvine’s men’s basketball team fell to 2-3 overall, losing to USC 91-56 Tuesday night in a non-conference game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

Dawson Baker led UCI with 17 points, making 6 of 9 field goal attempts and 3 of 4 three-pointers. Austin Johnson had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Anteaters.

USC (4-1) was led by Evan Mobley, who had a game-high 22 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks 

UCI struggled shooting, making 33.8 percent of its field goal attempts while USC made 51 percent and hit 50 percent of its three-point attempts.

USC also outrebounded UCI 42-34.

“It’s hard to come away from this performance with any good feeling for our players and our fans so that is frustrating,” said UCI Coach Russell Turner.

“I was hoping to see more of an improvement and we did not get that tonight. We were never really able to get our footing defensively or on the glass. I give a lot of credit to USC, they played really well. We didn’t do anything to dictate the defensive, and when we have won games against Power 5 teams in the past we were always able to do that. I need to get us sorted out and ready to compete against Division 1 teams.”  

NEXT UCI GAME: Thursday, Dec. 17 at Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.

Source: UCI Athletic Communications