IRVINE, Calif. (AP) -- Greg Ethington scored 21 points and took 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes Saturday as UC Irvine clinched fifth place in the Big West Conference with a 79-49 victory over last place Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, whose point total was a season low.
UC Irvine (15-12, 8-10) will open the conference tournament Wednesday against eighth-seeded Idaho.
Cal Poly (5-22, 3-15) made just eight field goals in the first half and gave up 45 first half points, tying a season high.
Ethington scored 10 of his points and had six of his rebounds in the game's first nine minutes and four seconds. He finished the first half with 15 points and nine rebounds, then played just six minutes of the second half.
Nic Campbell scored a career-best 11 points for the Anteaters.
Dawin Whiten scored 14 points for the Mustangs, and Mike Titchenal had a game-high 11 rebounds.
