IRVINE — Dawson Baker made the most of the first start of his UC Irvine career.
The freshman guard had a career-high 21 points to lead five UCI players in double figures as the Anteaters routed La Sierra University of Riverside, 104-54, on Wednesday night at the Bren Events Center.
It was UCI’s second blowout of an overmatched NAIA opponent in less than a week. The Anteaters (2-2) set multiple program records in a 135-55 drubbing of Bethesda University of Anaheim on Saturday night.
“It was a great opportunity for me to start today,” said Baker, a Capistrano Valley High graduate who was 8 for 13 from the field and added five rebounds and four steals in 18 minutes. “I just tried to focus on my defensive play today and I think in turn that helped me with my offensive game.”
Junior forward Collin Welp had 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting, five rebounds and three steals for UCI against La Sierra. Senior center Brad Greene, sophomore guard Jeron Artest and sophomore forward JC Butler (nine rebounds) added 11 points each. Sophomore forward Austin Johnson added nine points and eight rebounds off the bench.
No UCI starter played more than 20 minutes, and all eight reserves played at least six, five of them logging 15 minutes or more.
UCI shot 55.9 percent (38 for 68) from the field and held La Sierra to just 39.6 percent (18 for 48) shooting overall and 29 percent (7-24) from 3-point range. The Anteaters held significant advantages in paint points (58-12), bench points (47-12) and points off turnovers (37-13). UCI also held an 18-6 advantage in steals.
An Artest 3-pointer gave UCI the lead for good with 10:18 left in the first half and started a 12-0 run that gave the Anteaters a 25-14 lead about two minutes later. Following a timeout, Baker fueled a 15-0 run with five points, two steals and an assist in a span of 2:44. The Anteaters scored the last nine points of the half, including five more from Baker and led 51-24 at the intermission.
Artest made a 3-pointer and another jumper to extend the margin to 58-26 in the opening minutes of the second half. La Sierra responded with a 9-4 surge of its own, but UCI followed with a 12-2 run that pushed the lead to 78-42 with 8:03 left.Freshman guard DJ Davis hit a jumper with 1:13 left to give UCI 100 points for the second consecutive game.
Sophomore forward Uriel Lejtman had 15 points for the Golden Eagles (0-1). Junior forward Duane Darrett Jr. added 11 points, and junior guard Kamien Cedarlind had six rebounds.
UP NEXT
UCI plays at USC in a nonconference game on Tuesday (Dec. 8) at 7 p.m.
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