Mike Best came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points, 13 of them in the second half, and help UC Irvine defeat Hope International 76-54 on Thursday night.
Best, a freshman, was 8 of 10 from the field. Daman Starring added 12 points and sophomore guard Chris McNealy had 11 for the Anteaters (3-9), who snapped a three-game losing streak. Derick Flowers dished out nine assists, his career best.
Steve Jurich and Matt Green led the Royals, an NAIA program, with 10 points each.
Irvine led 33-23 at halftime and built a 32-point lead on two occasions midway through the second half. The Anteaters took advantage of numerous Royals mistakes, scoring 24 points off 18 Hope International turnovers. They also won the rebound battle 40-27 and outscored the Royals 11-1 on second-chance points.
Starring made three of the Anteaters' nine 3-pointers in the game.
