UCI locks up No. 2 seed

The UC Irvine men’s basketball team, which hosts Long Beach State

Saturday night at 7, will be the No. 2 seed in next week’s Big West

Tournament. The ‘Eaters realized their seed because UC Santa Barbara

defeated Cal State Fullerton Thursday, to lock up the tourney’s No. 1

seed.

The Gauchos have also clinched at least a share of the Big West

regular-season title. If they lose Saturday, and UCI defeats Long

Beach State, the ‘Eaters will become Big West co-champions, marking

the third straight season UCI has shared or won the conference

regular-season title.

UCI will face the conference’s No. 7 seed in the first round of

the Big West Tournament, Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention

Center. The Anteaters (18-8, 12-5 in the Big West) will most likely

face University of the Pacific. UCI defeated the Tigers, 66-62, at

Pacific, January 23 and, 78-73, in overtime, Feb. 22 at the Bren

Events Center.