Feb. 23, 2013

Final Stats / Photo Gallery

ARLINGTON, Texas - UC Irvine snapped UT Arlington's five-game winning streak by defeating the Mavericks 77-70 Saturday night at College Park Center in the Ramada Worldwide Bracketbusters.

UT Arlington (15-10) completed the nonconference portion of the schedule with the setback. The Mavericks' last four regular-season games are back in the Western Athletic Conference, beginning with San Jose State at College Park Center on Feb. 28.

UC Irvine (16-13) did something that few teams have done against UT Arlington this season. The Anteaters shot 52 percent against the nation's fourth-best defensive team, including 67 percent in the second half. Only eight previous opponents have shot at least 40 percent against the Mavs this season.

"It was a frustrating game," UT Arlington coach Scott Cross said. "We really struggled shooting the ball tonight, and in the second half we had to make some adjustments and they shot layups to gets their confidence going. It's hard to get back into a game when you aren't very good defensiviely."

UT Arlington shot only 36 percent in dropping to 5-7 at home this season. Jamel Outler scored a career-high 21 points for the Mavericks, reaching double figures for the seventh time. Brandon Edwards had his third consecutive double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Greg Gainey added 10 points.

"I just wanted to win," Outler said. "Coach Cross and Coach (Greg) Young told me to play confident. With any player, if you hit one or two shots you can get going."

Senior center Jordan Reves set the all-time single-season record for blocked shots with 59. Reves blocked four shots against UCI to break the previous mark of 58 set by Jermaine Griffin in 2006-07.

Five Anteaters scored in double figures, led by 16 each from Adam Folker and Will Davis II. UCI opened the second half with a 15-4 run and pushed its lead to as many as 14 points before a furious UT Arlington rally in the last minute. Outler and Kevin Butler hit 3-pointers to bring the Mavericks with 75-70 before UCI closed out the win at the line.