Rembert, a junior who has struggled this season, shooting 24.2% from the field and averaging just 3.3 points coming in, made four of seven field-goal tries, including the biggest shot of the game from three-point range with 2:16 left.
The three-pointer, on a kick-out pass from Eric Wise, broke a 59-59 deadlock and proved to be a blow from which the Matadors (4-10, 0-3) could not recover.
Strings, a sophomore who had scored just three points in seven games this season and was benched for last week’s conference opener due to what Douglass called “practice issues,” made four of five field-goal tries, including three of four from three-point range.
Strings’ production in just 18 minutes was enough to earn the envy of Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell, who said his Matadors’ current seven-game losing streak has created a lack of confidence up and down his roster.
Braswell said it was Irvine that made the plays it had to down the stretch.
“[UCI] had some other guys step up and hit some big shots,” Braswell said. “Rembert makes the big three down there at the end and the Strings kid was just phenomenal tonight. [The ’Eaters] made some good shots.”
Wise, a sophomore, had 10 of his 14 points after halftime to help UCI protect a 31-30 halftime lead.
Senior guard Darren Moore was another hero for the winners, scoring 11 points, getting two crucial offensive rebounds in the last minute, and netting two free throws with six seconds left to finalize the scoring.
Senior guard Michael Hunter chipped in 11 points for UCI, which was forced to make two stops down the stretch before running off to whoop it up in the locker room.
