February 18, 2012 | 11:09 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

UC Irvine 78, Eastern Washington 73

IRVINE — The host Anteaters finished on a 7-1 run to halt a four-game losing streak in a BracketBusters' contest Saturday.

Sophomore Chris McNealy led five Anteaters in double figures with 15 points.

Mike Wilder's three-pointer with 2:35 left put UCI ahead for good, 74-72, and McNealy and Wilder made one free throw each in the final 12 seconds to secure the win.

UCI (10-17) received 13 points from Daman Starring, 13 from Wilder, 12 from Mike Best, and 11 from Adam Folker.

UCI was 3 for 12 from the free-throw line in the first half, but nine for 13 after intermission. UCI shot 61.7% from the field (29 for 47) and made eight of 14 three-point attempts (57.1%) to help overcome 23 turnovers.

Eastern Washington (12-15) shot .34.4% from the field (22 for 64) and lost the rebounding battle, 37-32.

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Fresno Pacific 71, Vanguard 61

COSTA MESA — Chris Pynch scored 16 points to lead the Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Saturday.

Christopher Raybon added 12 points for Vanguard (14-13, 6-10 in conference).

Fresno Pacific is 14-14, 5-11.

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BASEBALL

UC Irvine 5, Southern 1

HOUSTON — The Anteaters' Kyle Hooper (1-0) pitched four shutout innings, striking out two and yielding one hit in relief Saturday in the MLB Urban Invitational at Minute Maid Park.

Pitcher Nick Hoover retired six straight to close out the game. Junior starter Matt Whitehouse fanned six in three innings and allowed a run to cross the plate in the first.

Tommy Reyes led UCI (2-0) offensively, going two for three with two runs batted in and a run scored, while Christian Ramirez also totaled two hits with a run batted in.

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