Leonard powers UC Irvine past CSU Northridge 71-54

LOS ANGELES -- Evan Leonard scored 20 points with 8-for-14 shooting to lead UC Irvine to a 71-54 win over Cal State Northridge on Saturday night.

Max Hazzard added 14 points, Eyassu Worku had 10 and Jonathan Galloway chipped in eight points while grabbing nine rebounds for Irvine (7-13, 2-2 Big West). The Anteaters dominated the glass 42-23 and never trailed.

Leonard, who has scored at least 20 points in three straight games, dropped in a layup early in the second half to spark a 10-2 run that made it 57-40 with under 10 minutes to play and Irvine led by double figures the rest of the way.

Tavrion Dawson and Micheal Warren scored 14 points apiece for Northridge (3-14, 0-3), which went 15 for 15 from the free throw line but shot just 34 percent from the field. The loss was the third straight for the Matadors.