Ethington Gives UC Irvine a Lift

For the first time in a few years, UC Irvine was a bit of an unknown quantity heading into this season with seven new players joining the active roster.

The Anteaters are quickly getting a better sense of themselves as they go into Big West Conference play next week.

Greg Ethington had 19 points to spark Irvine’s 75-62 victory over New Mexico State on Tuesday night in front of 1,692 at Irvine.

Irvine (5-2) continued its surprising start after picking up Bay Area road victories at Santa Clara and San Jose State last week.

“Those two road games were really big for us,” Ethington said. “Especially since we start conference with two on the road. Had we not done as well, we’d be questioning ourselves right now.”

Irvine scored the first 10 points and kept control throughout. Aaron Fitzgerald finished with 14 points and six assists as all five starters were in double figures.

“We’re starting to move the ball well,” Coach Pat Douglass said. “[Trevor Lawrence] is a talented player. Greg took it at him at the other end of the floor.”

The Anteaters were never seriously threatened, building leads of 16 points in the first half and 19 in the second. In forcing 23 turnovers, they also continued to display improvement on the defensive end.

“I think my kids are striving to get better,” Douglass said. “But we’ve got a long ways to go. This team can be pretty good in the second half of league.”

Ross Schraeder kept up his blistering three-point shooting. Schraeder, who made eight three-pointers and scored 26 points against San Jose State, made four of five from beyond the arc and finished with 12 points.

Nic Campbell had a career-high 11 points and Darren Fells had 10 for the Anteaters. Josh Jenkins led the Aggies (3-7) with 18 points off the bench and Lawrence had 10.

-- Eric Stephens

Cal State Northridge 79, Cal Baptist 60 -- Joseph Frazier scored a game-high 17 points, and the Matadors won their home opener.

Northridge (2-6) shot 72% (18 of 25) from the field in the first half on the way to a 43-29 lead at the half.

Cal Baptist (8-3), which earlier this season scored an NAIA-record 181 points in a win over Redlands, got no closer than nine points in the second half.

Terrance Johnson and Peter Rajniak each scored 14 points for Cal Baptist.

The teams traded baskets in the first few minutes before Northridge took control with a 12-4 run for a 19-10 lead with 9:20 left in the first half.

Loyola Marymount 64, Colgate 54 -- Matthew Knight scored 10 of his 18 points in the second half to lead the Lions at Hamilton, N.Y.

The Lions (7-2) opened the second half with a 10-2 run, keyed by six points from Knight, to take a 37-35 lead. Colgate (3-6) rallied for a 40-39 lead, but the Lions scored the next four points and never trailed again.

Dustin Brown with 14 points and Charles Brown had 13 for the Lions.

San Diego State 63, Cal State Fullerton 60 -- Bobby Brown scored 27 points but the Titans (3-3) shot 29% from the field and fell at San Diego.

Fullerton’s Jamaal Brown missed a three-pointer at the final buzzer.

Bobby Brown made seven of 13 three-point shots. He made his final three-pointer after a San Diego State turnover to cut Fullerton’s deficit to 61-58 with 1:01 to play.

Marcus Slaughter had 15 points and 13 rebounds to help the Aztecs (5-5) end a four-game skid.

The Aztecs led, 32-26, at halftime but Fullerton cut the deficit to 38-36 seven minutes into second half. San Diego State regained control with a 15-2 run, including seven points by Slaughter, for a 53-38 lead with 7:27 to go.

San Diego State shot 41% from the field (24 of 58), surpassing the 36% level for the first time this season.

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Long Beach lost to host Hawaii, 54-45, late Monday in a first-round game of the Rainbow Classic at Honolulu.

The 49ers (1-6) shot only 30% from the field but held Hawaii (6-0) to a season-low 28.5% shooting.