UC Irvine Gives Utah State a Scare

Mark Brown made a key basket with 1 minute 23 seconds remaining and later made two free throws, and No. 24-ranked Utah State survived an inspired effort by UC Irvine for a 59-56 Big West Conference victory Saturday night in front of 4,210 at Irvine.

Brown’s floater in the lane over center Adam Parada gave the Aggies (24-2, 16-1 Big West) a 57-53 lead. The point guard, who had a team-high 17 points, made two free throws for a six-point advantage with 34 seconds left to help keep Utah State in first place.

“He’s our floor general,” forward Spencer Nelson said. “He’s made this team go all year and he hit some real big buckets, especially that one in the lane at the end.”

Irvine’s Ross Schraeder, who had 20 points, made a three-point basket to cut the lead to three points.

Brown missed two free throws to give the Anteaters (11-15, 6-10) another chance, but Schraeder’s three-point try over the 6-foot-8 Nelson bounced off the left side of the rim.

Utah State’s last three games at Irvine have gone down to the last shot.

“We didn’t expect it to be anything different than it was,” Aggie Coach Stew Morrill said. “We made enough plays down the stretch.... The missed free throws, all that’s water under the bridge when you win.”

Irvine needs a victory to clinch a spot in the Big West tournament. The Anteaters visit UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo next week to end the regular season.

Stanislav Zuzak had 12 points, and Parada had nine points and 10 rebounds in the last home game of their careers.

-- Eric Stephens

UC Riverside 63, UC Santa Barbara 60 -- Guard Ricky Porter came up with a steal and free throw in the waning moments and the host Highlanders (9-15, 6-10 Big West) kept their playoff hopes alive.

With two road games remaining, they are tied for seventh place with Fullerton, but moved two games ahead of Long Beach State and San Luis Obispo.

Vili Morton, who led all scorers with 19 points, put Riverside up, 61-57, with 24 seconds left with a rebound and basket after teammate Kevin Butler missed the second of two free throws. But 14 seconds later guard Cecil Brown responded with a three-pointer from the baseline to cut Riverside’s lead to one point.

Butler was fouled before the inbounds play and made the second of two free throws. Santa Barbara (14-11, 8-8) moved the ball quickly into the frontcourt, but Porter stole a Josh Davis pass. He was fouled with 2.2 seconds to play and made the second of two free throws.

-- Paul McLeod

Cal State Fullerton 90, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 83 -- Anthony Bolton and Pape Sow each scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Titans at home

San Luis Obispo (9-15, 4-12 Big West) has to win its last two games for a chance at making the conference tournament.

Fullerton (10-15, 6-10) remains in position to take one of the tournament’s last two spots.

Bolton made his first five three-point tries and finished five for seven from behind the arc.

He also made his eight free throws in the last three minutes, and the Titans connected on their last 12 free throws to secure the win.

Pacific 69, Cal State Northridge 62 -- Guillaume Yango scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Tigers (20-7, 15-1 Big West) at Stockton.

The Matadors (11-13, 7-9) rallied for a 60-59 lead with 2:39 to play, but Pacific answered with a 7-0 run, including five points from Yango, for a 66-60 lead with 1:00 to play.

Pacific made three free throws down the stretch to close out its 16th win in 17 games.

Eto Onyenegecha had 15 points and 16 rebounds for Northridge. Ian Boylan had 14 points and Thomas Shewmake scored 12 for the Matadors.

Pacific built its biggest lead, 55-45, midway through the second half on a fastbreak dunk by Jasko Korajkic off a lob pass from David Doubley, who had a career-high seven assists.

But Northridge answered with a 15-4 run, taking its only lead of the second half after consecutive baskets by Onyenegecha. The run gave Northridge a 60-59 lead, but was followed by Pacific’s 7-0 burst.

Idaho 60, Long Beach State 56 -- Dwayne Williams and Tanoris Shepard each scored 16 points to lead the Vandals (13-14, 9-8 Big West) against the host 49ers (6-19, 4-12), who have lost eight in a row.

The 49ers took a 44-33 lead with 12:34 left after Cody Pearson’s dunk capped a 20-2 stretch. But Idaho went on a 12-2 run and tied the score, 47-47.

Kevin Roberts led the 49ers with 15 points.

San Francisco 66, Loyola Marymount 61 -- Charles Brown scored 14 points for the Lions (14-13, 5-9 West Coast Conference), but the Lions fell to the host Dons (17-13, 7-7).

Alvin Broussard had 19 points for San Francisco.