UC Irvine defeats Fairleigh Dickinson 75-54

RICHMOND, Ky. — Michael Hunter scored 16 points to lead UC Irvine to a 75-54 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday night.

The Anteaters (3-3) controlled the second half to break open a tight game and send the Knights (1-5) to their third consecutive defeat.

Irvine led 39-35, but outscored Fairleigh Dickinson 36-19 in the second half in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Classic.

The Anteaters outrebounded the Knights 42-31 and had eight steals and turned the ball over 13 times compared to Fairleigh Dickinson’s 29 miscues. Irvine also was 20-for-23 from the free throw line (87 percent).

Mike Wilder finished with 12 points and Eric Wise added 11 points for Irvine.

Sean Baptiste scored 19 points and had seven rebounds for Fairleigh Dickinson. Mike Scott added 14 points.

Wise and Baptiste were selected to the all-tournament team for the Richmond subregional.