Irvine Will Be Caught With Its Guards Down Against Cal

UC Irvine will be without its top two point guards--senior starter Rod Palmer and freshman reserve Ben Rishwain--when it plays at California Saturday.

Palmer suffered a sprained right knee trying to draw an offensive foul and Rishwain broke the index finger on his left (shooting) hand during the first half of the Anteaters’ 74-72 loss to Tennessee Chattanooga Saturday.

Palmer, who averages 13 points and four assists for the Anteaters (1-3), had X-rays taken Sunday and underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging examination Monday, which showed no cartilage damage. He is expected to be out two weeks.

Rishwain, a walk-on from Stockton, underwent surgery on Sunday and could be out three to four weeks. He has been a steady backup, averaging about 10 minutes a game.

Dylan Rigdon, a freshman who was a shooting guard at Mater Dei High School last season, will start in place of Palmer at California, Coach Bill Mulligan said Monday.

Craig Marshall, a freshman who was a swingman at Saddleback High, will be Rigdon’s backup.

Rigdon played 21 minutes against Tennessee Chattanooga, getting two points and three rebounds. Marshall had five points and two rebounds in a season-high nine minutes.