IRVINE, Calif. (AP)—Patrick Sanders scored UC Irvine’s final 11 points of the game to lead the Anteaters to a 64-57 victory over Long Beach State in a Big West Conference game Thursday night.
Patrick Hunter scored 15 points and Darren Fells added nine points and seven rebounds for Irvine (13-14, 7-6).
Cornel Williams scored 19 points to lead the 49ers (6-21, 3-10).
Long Beach State opened the game by turning the ball over on its first three possessions. The 49ers went on a 9-2 run capped by a free throw by Williams with 6:07 left in the half to build a five-point lead at 22-17.
The Anteaters rallied from an eight-point deficit in the second half, with Sanders hitting a jumper with 12:22 left to cap a 10-0 run and give the Anteaters a 40-38 lead.
Sanders hit a 3-pointer with 4:10 left in the game to give the Anteaters the lead for good at 56-55.
