UC Irvine’s men’s basketball team dropped its second game in a row to start the season, losing to San Diego State 77-58 in the San Diego State multi-team event Friday at Viejas Arena.
UCI (0-2) was hurt by 25 turnovers. San Diego State (2-0) made 26 points off the turnovers.
The Anteaters made 47.9 percent of their field goal attempts and held the Aztecs to 40.3 percent. San Diego State made 13 three pointers (13 of 32) and the Anteaters sank five (5 of 18).
Brad Greene led UCI for the second game in a row with 11 points. He also had a game high eight rebounds and two blocks. Collin Welp and Dawson Baker had 10 points and JC Butler eight points and a game-high four assists for UCI.
Keshad Johnson led San Diego State with 14 points.
UCI outrebounded San Diego State 36-31.
“I saw improvement tonight from my team on the defensive end and with our rebounding,” said UCI Coach Russell Turner.
“I thought our fight and spirit was improved as well. I thought we did dictate defensively for most of the first half like I have seen our program do so many times before. I don’t think our conditioning and physicality is good enough yet to sustain the type of defense we play for the entire game and especially against the type of strong and deep team that San Diego State is.
“I give them a lot of credit and their ability to force turnovers against us. We are a long way from where we want to be but I do see it as an improvement.”
UCI has its first home game Saturday at 8 p.m., hosting Bethesda at the Bren Events Center. No fans will be allowed to attend.
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