Irvine Still Perfect in Big West Play

Patrick Sanders may have started the season off on the wrong foot -- actually, a strained ligament in his right knee -- but the UC Irvine sophomore has the Anteaters on course for a Big West Conference title.

Sanders scored a career-high 18 points Wednesday night as Irvine defeated Cal State Fullerton, 83-68, at the Bren Events Center, the second victory in five days over the Titans.

The first-place Anteaters, 11-8 overall and 7-0 in the Big West Conference, play at second-place Long Beach State on Saturday in the first of three consecutive road games.

Sanders, who strained his knee in the season opener, made his 10th start in a row and more than doubled his season average of 7.7 points. The 6-foot-6 forward also delivered 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.

He has scored 14, 15 and 18 in consecutive games.

It was the fourth loss in five games for Fullerton (9-8, 3-5).

“This game was big in the sense that we had to take care of business,” said Sanders, who scored 10 of Irvine’s first 17 points. “When you’re 6-0, everyone is gunning for you.”

The score was tied, or changed hands, 11 times in the first 16:10, but junior forward Mark Kelley came off the bench and, during an 80-second span, scored six points in an 8-0 run that gave Irvine a 28-23 lead.

Irvine led, 38-29, at halftime, and as Fullerton missed its first six shots of the second half, Ross Schraeder’s first basket punctuated an 8-2 run that stretched the margin to 46-31. Schraeder, Irvine’s leading scorer at 13.7 points, scored 10.

Fullerton eventually trailed by 18 points and could get no closer than 10 points afterward.

Frank Robinson led Fullerton with 17 points, and freshman Jerard Moret had 13.

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-- Martin Henderson