Barnett Leads Fresno Over Irvine

FRESNO — UC Irvine beat Fresno State by 23 points in the teams’ first meeting this season, and the Anteaters did it with a bundle of three-point baskets.

The Bulldogs returned the favor Thursday night in Selland Arena with an 88-75 Big West Conference victory in front of 9,714.

Fresno State (9-10, 4-6) made 12 three-point baskets, tying a school record, and shot 55% from beyond the line.

Irvine (8-14, 3-7), which had 15 three-point baskets in the first meeting, made 13 of 26 this time, but that wasn’t enough.

Dave Barnett, a Fresno State senior guard, made five of eight three-point shots, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, the third triple-double against Irvine this season.

Irvine received 23 points inside from Ricky Butler and 23 points outside from Jeff Herdman, but Dylan Rigdon, who scored a career-high 31 against the Bulldogs last time, was held to seven points.