Recap: USC vs. UC Irvine

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Daman Starring erupted for a game-high 23 points as the UC Irvine Anteaters knocked off the USC Trojans, 61-54, in non- conference play at the Galen Center.

Starring made good on 8-of-15 shots from the floor, including 5-of-6 behind the 3-point line, as the Anteaters (6-7) won for the second time in the last three outings. Also scoring in double figures for the visitors was Adam Folker who tallied 12 points.

The Trojans (4-7), losers of six of their last seven after opening the campaign with three wins in four tries, were paced by Omar Oraby with 12 points and Eric Wise with 10.

Leading almost the entire game, the Anteaters moved out to a 37-25 advantage at the break when Chris McNealy converted a layup at the buzzer. Irvine turned the ball over just three times in the first half, leading to a mere two points for the hosts.

In the second half, UCI maintained a double-digit lead for much of the period, but a layup by USC's Byron Wesley with just over three minutes to play made the score 59-54. However, a basket by Folker at the 2:38 mark for the Anteaters pushed the lead back to seven points and from there both teams went scoreless.

USC won the rebounding battle, 34-28, but the team was also guilty of 16 turnovers which prevented the Trojans from completing the comeback bid.

The victory for the Anteaters was their first against USC since 1983.