Photo by Tod Fierner

MORAGA, Calif. --- Eyassu Worku scored 14 points and Tommy Rutherford added 11, but UC Irvine fell victim to sharp-shooting Saint Mary's in the second half as the 12th-ranked Gaels defeated the Anteaters, 84-53, at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga Sunday evening.

Saint Mary's shot 64 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and 56.3 percent for the game as the Gaels improved to 7-1.

A steal and half-court shot by Jordan Hunter as time expired in the first half propelled the Gaels to a 38-25 halftime lead and Saint Mary's never let up in the second half.

Jock Landale's 15 points led five Saint Mary's players in double figures with Evan Fitzner and Jordan Ford adding 12 each.

Rutherford was 5 of 7 from the field for the Anteaters (5-6) and Worku was 6 for 10, including 2 of 3 on three-pointers.

Max Hazzard added eight points and Brad Greene grabbed a team-high five rebounds while Jaron Martin dished out five assists.

Saint Mary's led wire-to-wire and jumped out to an 11-3 lead the first five minutes of the game.

UCI closed to within three at 19-16 on a basket by Worku with 7:33 left in the opening half, but the Gaels gradually extended their lead, building a 20-point margin two minutes into the second half.

UCI shot 41.5 percent from the floor in the game and the 'Eaters were outrebounded, 35-24.

The Gaels hit 10 of 17 three-point shots while UCI was 5 of 14 from beyond the arc.

The Anteaters, who are in the midst of five consecutive games away from home, play at Nevada Wednesday night at 7:00.