Anaheim, CA -- (Sports Network) - Darren Fells scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the fifth-seeded UC Irvine Anteaters to a 77-63 victory over the eighth-seeded Long Beach State 49ers in the first round of the Big West Conference Tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Patrick Sanders added 18 points in the win for UC Irvine (16-15), while Marcus McIntosh and Michael Hunter chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively, for the Anteaters.

Donovan Morris posted a game-high 25 points to pace Long Beach State (6-25), while Greg Plater tallied 17 in the losing effort. Cornel Williams netted 12 points for the 49ers.

UC Irvine shot at a scorching 72.0 percent clip during the first period, opening a commanding 47-31 halftime lead.

The Anteaters connected on 46.2 percent of their attempts from the field during the second stanza en route to the 14-point victory.

UC Irvine advances to face fourth-seeded Pacific in the quarterfinals on Thursday.