UC Irvine 61, UC Santa Barbara 58

The Gauchos’ Larry Bell missed a three-point shot at the buzzer and the Anteaters ended a two-game losing streak before 1,397 at the Bren Center.

Irvine (11-12, 4-8 in the Big West) nearly blew a 19-point lead in the second half and scored only three points in the last 6:57.

Forward Marek Ondera scored 23 points as the Anteaters remained tied for fourth in the conference’s Western Division.

Irvine led, 32-21 at halftime, then pushed it to 53-34 with 11:37 left. Ben Jones’ three-point basket gave the Anteaters a 58-43 lead with 6:57 left. They didn’t get another field goal.

LeRon Bryant scored eight of his 10 points in the last five minutes to rally Santa Barbara (11-12, 7-5).

Santa Barbara, which had won seven of eight games, had a chance to take the lead, trailing, 60-58, but Erick Ashe’s three-point shot bounced off the rim with four seconds left.

Jones grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made one of two free throws.