College Roundup: UCI finishes strong

MEN’S BASKETBALL

UC Irvine 78, Eastern Washington 73

IRVINE — The host Anteaters finished on a 7-1 run to halt a four-game losing streak in a BracketBusters’ contest Saturday.

Sophomore Chris McNealy led five Anteaters in double figures with 15 points.

Mike Wilder’s three-pointer with 2:35 left put UCI ahead for good, 74-72, and McNealy and Wilder made one free throw each in the final 12 seconds to secure the win.

UCI (10-17) received 13 points from Daman Starring, 13 from Wilder, 12 from Mike Best, and 11 from Adam Folker.

UCI was 3 for 12 from the free-throw line in the first half, but nine for 13 after intermission. UCI shot 61.7% from the field (29 for 47) and made eight of 14 three-point attempts (57.1%) to help overcome 23 turnovers.

Eastern Washington (12-15) shot .34.4% from the field (22 for 64) and lost the rebounding battle, 37-32.

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Fresno Pacific 71, Vanguard 61

COSTA MESA — Chris Pynch scored 16 points to lead the Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Saturday.

Christopher Raybon added 12 points for Vanguard (14-13, 6-10 in conference).

Fresno Pacific is 14-14, 5-11.

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BASEBALL

UC Irvine 5, Southern 1

HOUSTON — The Anteaters’ Kyle Hooper (1-0) pitched four shutout innings, striking out two and yielding one hit in relief Saturday in the MLB Urban Invitational at Minute Maid Park.

Pitcher Nick Hoover retired six straight to close out the game. Junior starter Matt Whitehouse fanned six in three innings and allowed a run to cross the plate in the first.

Tommy Reyes led UCI (2-0) offensively, going two for three with two runs batted in and a run scored, while Christian Ramirez also totaled two hits with a run batted in.

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MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

UC Irvine def. Pacific

IRVINE — The No. 2-ranked Anteaters hit a season-high .474 to win 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match Saturday at Crawford Court.

UCI (10-3, 6-3 in the MPSF) was led by senior All-American opposite Carson Clark and sophomore outside hitter Jeremy Dejno with 12 kills each.

Junior outside hitter Kevin Tillie added 10 kills.

No. 12-ranked Pacific is 5-9, 3-6.

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Vanguard 80, Fresno Pacific 72

COSTA MESA — Esther Timmermans scored a game-high 25 points to go with eight rebounds and two steals for the Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Saturday.

Paige Halberg added 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots, while Maree Drennan had 10 rebounds for Vanguard (20-5, 13-3 in conference).

Fresno Pacific is 13-15, 5-11.

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SOFTBALL

Doubleheader

COSTA MESA — Vanguard was swept by nonconference visitor William Jessup, 3-1, 4-2, Saturday.

Adriana Venezia and Gabrielle Jackson (one run batted in) had two hits each in the first-game, 3-1 loss.

Taylor Hallahan (one RBI), Brittney Boggs and Jackson had two hits each in the nightcap.

Vanguard is 6-6. William Jessup is 9-5.

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WOMEN’S WATER POLO

UC Irvine 12, Loyola Marymount 9

LOS ANGELES — Jessy Cardey and Danielle Warde scored five goals each for the Anteaters in the nonconference game Saturday.

Jillian Yocum made nine saves for UCI (9-2).

LMU is 4-5.

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Lancer Invite

RIVERSIDE — Vanguard suffered losses to Fresno Pacific (13-1) and Occidental (9-5) Saturday at Cal Baptist.

Grace Konstanzer had two goals against Occidental and Cara Deckert scored for the Lions against Fresno Pacific.