Feb. 13, 2003
Box Score
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State rallied from a 16-point first half deficit to lead 54-51 with 3:53 reamaining before falling 59-58 to UC Irvine in Big West basketball action on Thursday.
The home loss was the first of the season for the Aggies, which are now 9-1 at home. USU fell to 17-6 overall and 8-4 in the Big West, while UC Irvine improved to 14-7 and 8-4.
Desmond Penigar scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half as the Aggies rallied from a deficit, which saw them trailing 31-15 with 3:52 left in the first half. USU cut the margin to 33-22 at the break.
UC Irvine upped its lead to 47-35 midway through the second half before an Aggie rally which saw USU outscore UCI 19-4 to take the 54-41 lead. Toraino Johnson scored seven of USU's points in the run and finished the night with 13 points. Johnson was perfect on the night hitting all three of his field goal attempts, including his third three-pointer of the year, while also making all six of his free throw attempts.
UCI tied the game at 54 when Stanislav Zuzak hit his only three-pointer of the game and then took the lead on two Jeff Gloger free throws. Penigar hit a short shot to tie the game at 56 before UCI's Jordan Harris gave the visitors a 57-56 lead with 1:01 left.
After getting fouled in the corner, USU's Ronnie Ross made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left in the game to give the Aggies a 58-57 lead. UCI inbounded the ball and Ross was called for a blocking foul near midcourt with 1.3 seconds left. Mike Hood calmly hit both free throws to give the Anteaters the victory.
USU shot just 40.8 percent from the field, including just 36.0 percent in the first half. UC Irvine meanwhile shot 46.2 percent, including 51.7 percent in the first half. The Anteaters owned a 21-10 rebounding advantage at halftime, but ended up with just four more rebounds than USU at the end of the game (32-28).
UCI was led by seven-foot center Adam Parada, who hit seven of nine shots for 15 points. Harris added 13 more for the Anteaters.
Utah State will host Long Beach State on Saturday at 7:05 p.m., while UC Irvine will travel to Idaho on that day.
