College Roundup: UC Irvine men’s basketball clinches Big West Conference regular-season title outright

Evan Leonard finished with 22 points, helping the UC Irvine men’s basketball team clinch the Big West Conference regular-season title outright by beating Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 82-76 on the road Thursday.

Eyassu Worku added 18 points for the Anteaters (20-12, 12-2 in conference), who have won back-to-back conference regular-season titles for the first time in program history. Tommy Rutherford scored 16 points.

UC Irvine, which has won five straight games, has two more conference games remaining before the Big West Tournament. The Anteaters host UC Santa Barbara on Saturday at 7 p.m. in their homecoming game, and host Cal State Northridge on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for senior night.

Hope International 75, Vanguard 72: Masie Mohammadi had 17 points, including five three-pointers, for the Lions in Thursday’s Golden State Athletic Conference game at home.

Michael Magee scored 14 points for Vanguard (13-16, 6-11 in conference).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Vanguard 88, Hope International 78: Vanessa Murphy had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Lions in Thursday’s Golden State Athletic Conference game at home.

Tristen Rollon scored 22 points for No. 7-ranked Vanguard (22-4, 14-3 in conference). Michaella Elad had 16 points.

The Lions close out the regular season with a home game against No. 4 The Master’s University on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

UC Irvine 72, Hawaii 71: Sophia Locandro scored a career-high 34 points for the Anteaters in Thursday’s Big West Conference game at Bren Events Center.

Lauren Saiki had 11 points and 12 assists, and Alexus Seaton also scored 11 points for UC Irvine (11-17, 7-7 in conference).

The Anteaters host UC Riverside on March 5 at 7 p.m.

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