Best has 22 points, UC Irvine beat Loyola Marymount 77-53
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) Mike Best had a career-high 22 points and eight rebounds to help defending Big West Conference champion UC Irvine won its second straight game to open the season, 77-53 over cold-shooting Loyola Marymount on Sunday night.
The Anteaters have won 38 of their past 46 home games and lead the series with the Lions 12-11.
UC Irvine opened with a 7-0 run, pushed the lead to 11 points on Jaron Martin's 3-pointer with 10:12 to play in the first half and took a 39-25 lead at the half.
Adom Jacko led Loyola Marymount with 17 points, and Adom Jacko had 14. The Lions shot just 17 of 62 (27.4 percent) from the field and fell to 1-1 after the first weekend. They knocked off Cal State Fullerton, also of the Big West, 79-74 on Friday night.
