Anteaters, USC and a College Basketball Game
UCI was hoping for a road win and an upset of the 16th-ranked Trojans
My ties to UCI men’s basketball date back to my freshman year of college. The Anteaters, yes that’s our school mascot, played home games in Crawford Hall.
A high school gym at best, Crawford Hall was home to some of UCI’s biggest basketball upsets. The mid major program has also had its fair share of important road wins as well. Growing up a Cubs fan, being left handed and now an Anteater forever, the concept of being an underdog has always been the perfect fit for me.
Back in ancient history, let’s call it 1986, UCI defeated a towel-chomping Jerry Tarkanian coached UNLV squad 99-92, when the Running Rebels were ranked sixth in the nation. Nine days later UCI did it again, this time at Crawford Hall again beating ninth ranked UNLV, 95-88. Two wins by a Bill Mulligan coached team against nationally ranked Vegas in a little over a week. It was a glorious time to be a college student in Orange County, California.
That Las Vegas roster included future NBA players Armen Gilliam, Mark Wade and Anthony Jones as well as guys like Freddie Banks and John Flowers. They were a force.
On the other side of the bench, UCI was home to Anteaters who would also experience time in the NBA as well. That UCI team included Scott Brooks, Johnny Rogers, Tod Murphy and Wayne Englestad.
The ‘Eaters, a term I coined while working in the school’s Sports Information Office, no longer plays at Crawford Hall. The Bren Center has served as the home court for UCI hoops since January 11, 1987.
Why all this nostalgic basketball chatter? Earlier this month, UCI had a scheduled non conference road game at USC which drew my attention room. The Trojans were ranked 16th in the country. Debbie and I just happened to be back in Los Angeles.
With an open evening on our travel schedule, I did what any sensible alum would do. I texted my son and was able to easily convince him into joining me and Debbie at the Galen Center in Los Angeles for a road game. On a cool Tuesday evening the three of us made our way to the USC campus and cheer on the ‘Eaters vs the Trojans.
A chance to watch the team upset a nationally ranked team? I was hoping. Watch my alma mater play? Absolutely.
Thanks to my former Dodger teammate, Dave Tuttle we had the tickets in hand and seats to watch a couple hours of college basketball. I am not going to go into the small, trivial details of the game.
Lets just say I could not sit still for the better part of the second half when UCI extended its lead to 10 points in route to a 10 point upset victory, 70-60.
For an evening at least, if felt good to return to my roots and enjoy a win for the underdogs.