IRVINE, Calif. – Michael Wilder scored 17 points, including four 3-pointers, and UC Irvine held off a late rally to claim a 52-48 victory over struggling UC Riverside on Wednesday night.
Wilder was 4 of 11 from 3-point range for the Anteaters (13-13, 7-6 Big West), who also got 10 points and eight rebounds from Alex Young.
UC Irvine never trailed and led by as many as 12 in the second half, but the Highlanders (5-19, 2-10) pulled within 47-46 on two free throws by Chris Harriel with 2:01 left. Adam Folker's jump shot and Daman Starring's free throw put the Anteaters back up by four before Travis Souza sealed the win with two foul shots with 9 seconds left.
Harriel had 11 points for UC Riverside, which shot just 30 percent from the floor in losing its sixth in a row. UC Irvine shot only 31 percent.
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