STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) — Ross Rivera scored 21 points and Sama Taku added 20 with 11 free throws as Pacific outlasted UC Irvine 84-79 Tuesday night.
The Tigers (2-0) shot 40.3 percent from the field and were 31 of 37 from the charity stripe.
Despite converting 24 of their 48 field goal attempts, the Anteaters (0-2) found themselves behind by seven late in the game. They climbed back to cut the deficit to one after Luke Nelson hit a 3-pointer and two free throws with a Will Davis II dunk in between.
A dunk by Mamadou Ndiaye and another Nelson free throw tied the game at 73.
The Tigers pulled ahead as Khalil Kelley made a free throw and netted a jumper.
The Anteaters couldn’t connect on three of their last four 3-point attempts and were forced to foul, but Pacific finished 8-of-9 from the free-throw line to maintain a cushion.
