Feb 9, 2002

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) - Tony Brown scored 25 points and Utah State held off a late rally to beat UC Irvine 62-61 on Saturday.

Brown made 9 of 11 shots, including 5 of 6 threes, as Utah State (18-4, 10-3 Big West) held on for the win. Mike Hood's last second 3-pointer for Irvine rattled out at the buzzer.

Brown's 20 first-half points was more than the entire Irvine team as the Aggies took a 35-19 halftime lead.

UC Irvine (17-7, 10-3) stepped up their defense down the stretch and eventually cut the deficit to four at 58-54 on Hood's three-pointer with 2:00 left.

Seconds later the Anteaters cut it in half after Aras Baskauskas stole Utah State's pass under the basket and layed it in.

Adam Paradas three-point play with 35 seconds left was the last time either team would score. Desmond Penigar had two blocks in the last two minutes to preserve Utah State's lead.

Irvine held Brown to just five second-half points, but had problems stopping Penigar throughout. He finished with 18 points, nine rebound and three blocks.

Jordan Harris led the Anteaters with 18 points and Jerry Green added 16 points, seven assists and three steals.