College Roundup: VU men step up with big win

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Vanguard 75, Concordia 74 (OT)

The visiting Lions rallied to tie in regulation then pulled away and held on in overtime to claim at least a share of their first Golden State Athletic Conference title in 24 seasons Tuesday.

The No. 9-ranked Lions (22-4, 9-2 in conference) need just one win in their three remaining conference games to claim the program’s first outright conference crown since 1989. They shared GSAC titles in 1990 and 1987.

Senior guard Preston Wynne had a game-high 28 points, including a three-pointer with 1:28 left in overtime that broke a 70-70 tie.

Concordia’s Josh Smith made two free throws to pare the margin to one, but Vanguard junior DeAngelo Jones made two free throws with 1:39 left to put the visitors up 75-72.

Lucas Smith made a layup for Concordia and was fouled, but missed the free throw with 1:28 left. Neither team scored again.

Chris Gorman and Jones had 14 points each for Vanguard, for which Zach Allmon had a team-best 10 rebounds.

Concordia fell to 19-8, 6-5.

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Vanguard 93, Concordia 72

Senior Nicole Ballestero had 30 points and junior Leigha Bednar added 25 to help the visiting Lions clinch at least a share of the Golden State Athletic Conference regular-season championship on Tuesday.

No. 1-ranked Vanguard (22-0, 11-0 in conference), is three games ahead of The Master’s College with three conference games to play.

It’s the first GSAC regular-season title since 2010 for the Lions, who have won eight conference regular-season titles in the last 13 seasons under Coach Russ Davis.

Senior Taylor Belmont had 12 points, 13 assists and a team-best six rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes for the Lions, who shot 52.3% from the field (34 for 65).

Bednar made 12 of 15 field-goal attempts for the winners.

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BASEBALL

UC Irvine 1, Fresno State 0

Senior pitcher Evan Brock blanked the visiting Bulldogs on three hits through seven innings and Sam Moore preserved the shutout with two innings of one-hit relief to help the Anteaters salvage the final game of the three-game nonconference series on Sunday.

Brock earned the win and Moore posted the save, as Kris Paulino drove in Justin Castro with a single in the sixth inning for the game-winning run batted in.

Castro went three for three to account for half of UCI’s hits, as junior standouts Taylor Sparks (zero for 11 for the series) and Connor Spencer (zero for 13) are still looking for their first hit of the season.

UCI (1-2) plays host to Cal State Bakersfield on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Fresno State is 2-1.

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MEN’S TENNIS

Vanguard 9, Biola 0

LA MIRADA — Junior Roger Muri won, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 2 singles and combined with Philip Burnac to claim an 8-1 doubles win in the Golden State Athletic Conference match Tuesday at Biola.

Stefan Kilchhofer, Dayman Johnson, Burnac, Michael Rjazanov and Justin Seller also won in singles and doubles for the No. 3-ranked Lions (3-1, 3-0 in conference).

Biola is 2-3, 1-2.

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Los Angeles Pierce 6, Orange Coast 3

The Pirates fell to 4-2 after the nonconference loss Tuesday at Orange Coast.

Tony Wright and Brian Dao earned wins for OCC.

Wright won at No. 5 singles, 6-2 3-6 (10-4), and Dao won at No. 6 singles, 6-1 6-3.

They teamed up for an 8-1 doubles win.

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MEN’S GOLF

Folino Invitational

CITY OF INDUSTRY — UC Irvine finished third in the event that concluded Tuesday on the Ike Course at Industry Hills Golf Club.

UCI junior Pete Fernandez shot a final-round 73 to finish fifth. His 54-hole total was two-over-par 218, 14 shots behind the medalist, Mark Anguiano of Cal State Fullerton.

Senior Allan Jun (seventh at 221), freshman Ryan O’Connor (eighth at 222), sophomore Jacob Schulze (12th at 225) and senior Travis Russell (34th at 233) also scored for UCI.

The ‘Eaters’ team score was 886, 23 shot behind victorious Cal State Fullerton.