SOUTHLAND

UC Irvine 62, Pacific 55--The Anteaters held the Tigers to one field goal for the first 15 minutes of the second half and slowly pulled away in front of 3,014 at Stockton.

Irvine (12-12, 5-8) is tied with Pacific (10-15, 5-8) for third place in the Big West Conference’s Western Division.

This was pass-and-pick offense against clutch-and-grab defense. Pacific went without a field goal for 12 minutes in the second half, yet lurked nearby by making 11 of 16 free throws in that time.

“The second half just seemed to linger,” said Irvine forward Marek Ondera, who had 18 points. “I wanted the clock to move because we had a commanding lead.”

The Anteaters, who never trailed, led by as many as 17. Jerry Green scored 21 points and Malachi Edmond 12, but this was won with their defense.