UC San Diego’s men’s basketball team continued to climb the Big West Conference postseason seeding ladder Saturday night with a 80-64 victory over Cal Poly at LionTree Arena.

Meanwhile, Point Loma Nazarene men’s and women’s teams closed their regular seasons with home wins heading into the PacWest Tournament at PLNU this week. And the fifth-seeded San Diego City College men and MiraCosta College women moved within a win of reaching the California Community College elite eight round of state playoffs.

UCSD won a fifth straight game to improve to 21-9 overall and 11-7 in the Big West. The Tritons are now tied for third in the conference standings with two road games remaining before the conference tournament, which begins March 11 in Henderson, Nev.

“It’s a good time of the season to get hot,” UCSD coach Clint Allard said last week.

Guard Alex Chaikin led the Tritons with 17 points, but it was the overall play of freshman guard Hudson Mayes and forward Leo Beath that paced UCSD’s win over the Mustangs (13-17, 9-9). Mayes had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Beath had 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocked shots and two steals.

Forward Emanuel Prospere II had 12 points, three rebounds and three assists for the Tritons in his second appearance since Jan. 31. And freshman forward Jaden Vance had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The PLNU men and women swept Westmont College at Golden Gym.

The regular-season PacWest champion PLNU men (23-5, 18-4) scored a 76-66 win over Westmont (17-11, 14-8) while the Sea Lions women (21-7, 17-5) scored a 67-58 victory over the Warriors (20-8, 16-6).

Guard Jaden Matingou (St. Augustine High School) paced the PLNU men with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Forward Caden Harris scored 18 points and forward James Nobles had 14 points and four rebounds.

Guard Maddie Morrow led the PLNU women with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals. Forward Eiley Tippins had 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. And guard Hannah Golan had 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

The PLNU women finish the regular season tied for second with Azusa Pacific in the PacWest, one game behind Vanguard (18-4).

In a rubber match between Pacific Coast Athletic Conference women’s co-champions, MiraCosta (28-1) outscored Palomar College (21-8) by 18 points over the last 6:27 of the first period Saturday night and cruised to 87-63 victory.  MiraCosta will host 13th-seeded Los Angeles Trade Tech (21-9) Saturday night seeking a berth in the 3C2A Elite Eight.,

Sophomore guard Faith Behrendt (Classical Academy) led MiraCosta with 22 points. Sophomore point guards Kayla Palpallatoc (Morse High School; 20 points) and PCAC Women’s Player of the Year Anayla Anderson (15 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) turned in strong games.

Forward Kailani Flournoy (Mater Dei Catholic High School) paced Palomar with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman guard ReeRee Davis (Scripps Ranch High School) had 19 points.

The San Diego City College men (24-5) will complete Southern California Regional play next Saturday at fourth-seeded Ventura College (25-4). The Knights scored a 15th straight victory Saturday, defeating Saddleback (15-15) 79-70. PCAC Men’s Player of the Year Dylan Griffin (University City High) paced SDCC with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Junior Camacho had 20 points, 10 rebounds and three.