UC Irvine fails to stop McDaniel

HUNTSVILLE, Tex. — UC Irvine couldn’t contain Sam Houston State senior guard Shamir McDaniel Thursday night, and the Anteaters fell, 61-54, in a nonconference game.

McDaniel scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second to lead the Bearkats (10-0) past UC Irvine at Johnson Coliseum. McDaniel was four of five from the field, including three of three on three pointers, in the second half to help Sam Houston State stretch its nonconference home winning streak to 43 games.

Junior guard Trey Harris scored 13 points in 25 minutes off the bench to lead the Anteaters (4-6). Senior forward Patrick Sanders had 12 points and four rebounds, and senior center Darren Fells scored 12 points and four assists.

“I thought we received good play off the bench from Trey Harris, but Sam Houston State is a seasoned club and we couldn’t make a basket when we really needed one,” UCI coach Pat Douglass said. “We rebounded the ball fairly well, but their ability to hit the three when they needed it was a big factor in the game.”

McDaniel was four for five from the three-point line.

Senior Sam Houston State forward Ryan Bright had 10 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists to help the Bearkats overcome a 27-25 halftime deficit.

UCI faces Texas A&M; (10-1) Saturday at 11 a.m. The Aggies are ranked No. 11 in the ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 14 in the nation by the Associated Press.

Nonconference

Sam Houston State 61, US Irvine 54

UCI – Harris 13, Sanders 12, Fells 12, DeCasas 4, Hunter 3, Lauer 3, Bland 3, McIntosh 2, Awaji 2.

3-pt. goals – Harris 2, Bland 1, Fells 1, Lauer 1, Hunter 1.

SHS – McDaniel 22, Bright 10, Ramirez 9, Gardiner 8, Mitchell 4, Rawlins 4, Thomas 3, Faulkner 1.

3-pt. goals – McDaniel 4, Bright 1, Thomas 1, Ramirez 1, Mitchell 1.

Halftime – UCI, 27-25.