SOUTHLAND ROUNDUP

Nevada 86, UC Irvine 75--The Wolf Pack held off every Irvine challenge and then pulled away in a Big West game at Reno.

The Anteaters (7-13, 4-6), who have lost five of six games, trailed by 17 points in the first half, but pulled to within one midway through the second. They then trailed by 13 with five minutes left, and scored seven consecutive points to make it 68-62 with 4:25 left.

Each time Irvine closed in, Nevada’s Paul Culbertson made big plays.

His biggest plays set up others. After Irvine cut the lead to six, Culbertson drove to the basket and passed David Morgan for a layup and a 70-62 Nevada lead. Culbertson then intercepted a pass, which led to a Jimmy Carroll jump shot and a 10-point lead with 3:36 left. It started an 11-0 run.

Culbertson had with 19 points for Nevada (11-8, 7-3).

Adam Stetson led Irvine with 23 points.