Pacific has too much firepower for Irvine, 89-82

Anthony Esparza scored eight of his 23 points during a decisive second-half run Thursday night to propel Pacific to an 89-82 victory over host UC Irvine in a Big West Conference game at the Bren Events Center.

All five Pacific starters scored in double figures. Michael White added 15 points for the Tigers, who led, 32-26, at halftime.

Reserve Chuma Awaji scored 19 points for Irvine, 10-13 overall, 4-5 in conference. Patrick Sanders added 16 points for Irvine.

The Tigers (8-12, 4-3) out-rebounded Irvine, 35-21.

UC Santa Barbara 66, UC Davis 48 -- Chris Devine had 19 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes to lead the Gauchos to victory at Davis.

Justin Gardner added 12 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Gauchos (14-6).

Thomas Juillerat and Kyle Brucculeri each had 10 points for the Aggies (4-16).

The Gauchos trailed at halftime, 24-23, then opened the second half with a 21-5 run for a 44-29 lead. Santa Barbara held Davis to 28.1% shooting from the field.

WOMEN

USC 68, Oregon State 65 -- Shay Murphy’s three-point basket with 2.1 seconds left gave the Trojans (14-8, 8-4 Pacific 10 Conference) the victory at Corvallis, Ore.

Casey Nash, the Pac-10’s leading scorer, had 27 points for Oregon State (8-12, 3-8).

Oregon 76, UCLA 60 -- Tamika Nurse had 22 points at Eugene, Ore., and the Ducks (12-9, 4-7) ended a three-game losing streak to the Bruins (12-12, 6-6).

Noelle Quinn had 16 points for the Bruins (12-12, 6-6), whose three-game winning streak ended.