Slim Win for UC Irvine

UC Irvine made 14 three-point baskets -- more than half of its field-goal total for their game Tuesday -- and the Anteaters held off visiting Santa Clara, 78-70, in the Bren Center.

Aaron Fitzgerald was the hottest Anteater, making five of seven from three-point range and leading the way with 25 points. He was supported by Nic Campbell, who made four three-pointers and scored 18 points, and Ross Schraeder, who added 13 points.

If Coach Pat Douglass, given a ball autographed by the Anteater team before the game in recognition of his 500th win last week at Stanford, was concerned about UC Irvine (3-1) still feeling heady about the upset in Palo Alto, those concerns were quickly put to rest.

“The way they came out the first 10 minutes, they weren’t thinking about their laurels against Stanford,” Douglass said.

Indeed, the Anteaters made their first 13 shots, including 10 three-pointers, to build a 39-25 lead.

The Broncos (1-1), who got 26 points from Mission Viejo native Travis Niesen, got as close as 51-49 with 13:36 left but could get no closer.

“We needed to attack them a little better in the second half,” Douglass said. “If we’re open we’re going to take that three-point shot. But we kind of got caught up in playing more offense than defense.”

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-- Mike Terry

Cal State Northridge 77, Tulsa 71 -- Mike Efevberha scored 21 of his 36 points in the first half as the Matadors (2-0) held off the Golden Hurricanes at Northridge.

After Tulsa (0-2) went on a 12-3 run to tie the score, 70-70, Efevberha received a pass on the right side from Jonathan Heard and made a three-pointer. He made two free throws with 12.3 seconds to play to give Northridge a 76-71 lead.

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WOMEN

Brigham Young 71, UCLA 67 -- The Bruins remained winless as the Cougars (2-0) held off a rally to beat UCLA (0-2) in its opener at Pauley Pavilion.

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TONIGHT

MEN

Pepperdine (0-1) at Cal State Fullerton (1-0), 7 -- The Titans should have a better test tonight following their 97-52 season-opening victory against NAIA Hope International. The Waves gave a solid effort against No. 3 Connecticut in their home opener before losing, 75-56.

WOMEN

No. 24 USC (2-0) at Long Beach State (0-2), 7:30 -- The Trojans, playing the third of four road games to open the season, need to keep their minds off Friday’s game against No. 13 Notre Dame. The 49er losses were at Texas Christian and Houston.

-- MIKE TERRY