UC Irvine 74, UC Riverside 66

In a strange twist, the Anteaters beat the Highlanders in a nonconference game and clinched a tie for their first Big West Conference title.

Irvine got help from Boise State, which came from 12 points down to upend visiting Utah State, 78-77, in overtime. That gives the Anteaters (22-3, 13-1 in the Big West) a two-game lead over the Aggies (22-5, 11-3) with two games left. Irvine can win the title outright with a victory Thursday afternoon against Cal State Fullerton.

Guard Jerry Green led Irvine with 21 points but made only five of 15 shots. Sean Jackson, Ben Jones, Malachi Edmond and Stanislav Zuzak each scored 11 points for the Anteaters. Reserve guard Ted Bell scored 14 points for Riverside (8-15), which will join the Big West next season.

Irvine, playing before 3,763 at the Bren Center, led from start to finish, but Riverside was hanging around at the end. A jump hook by Vili Morton, who finished with eight points and 10 rebounds, cut Irvine’s lead to 66-60 with 1:18 left. . But Green got a wobbly eight-footer to dance over the rim for a basket and then Jackson got a steal and a dunk to give the Anteaters breathing room.