UC Irvine to Play Cal Poly in Big West Tournament Opener

Top-seeded UC Irvine, the regular-season men’s basketball champion in the Big West Conference, begins the conference tournament at 6 p.m. Thursday against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Cal State Fullerton plays at 2 p.m. Thursday against second-seeded Utah State.

The women’s tournament begins Wednesday, also at the Anaheim Convention Center. Fullerton meets top-seeded UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m., followed by Irvine’s game with Boise State.

The first-day pairings:

Men’s first round (Thursday): Noon--Long Beach State vs. Boise State; 2 p.m.--Utah State vs. Cal State Fullerton; 6 p.m.--UC Irvine vs. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; 8 p.m.--UC Santa Barbara vs. Pacific.

Women’s first round (Wednesday): 12:30 p.m.--Pacific vs. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; 2:30 p.m.--Long Beach State vs. Idaho; 6 p.m.--UC Santa Barbara vs. Cal State Fullerton; 8 p.m.--UC Irvine vs. Boise State.

At the Cal State Fullerton Invitational softball tournament:

Cal State Fullerton 5, Harvard 0--Jenny Topping had a triple, home run and three RBIs for the Titans (18-6). Julie Watson singled twice and Jodie Cox pitched five innings, striking out seven and allowing two hits. Fullerton also defeated Portland State, 9-1.

In nonconference women’s tennis:

New Mexico 5, UC Irvine 2--The Lobos won four of six singles matches and took the doubles point for the victory. Natalie Exon won, 6-2, 7-5, and Nickole Kabe won, 6-4, 6-4, in singles for the Anteaters (2-9).

New Mexico is 7-4.