IRVINE, Calif. --- Freshman center Mike Best scored a career-high 17 points as UC Irvine defeated Hope International, 76-54, in a non-conference game at the Bren Center Thursday night.
Best hit 8 of 10 from the field and scored 13 of his points in the second half.
Junior guard Daman Starring added 12 points and sophomore guard Chris McNealy 11 for the Anteaters, who improved to 3-9 on the season.
Junior point guard Derick Flowers had a career-high nine assists and scored seven points while junior center Adam Folker recorded eight points and seven boards.
Freshman center Will Davis II had seven points and seven rebounds, junior forward Michael Wilder also scored seven points along with five rebounds, and freshman Collin Woods registered five points and three assists.
Steve Jurich and Matt Green led Hope International with 10 points each, and Jurich had a team-high six boards.
UCI led 33-23 at halftime, and then opened the second half with a 33-11 run to go up 66-34 on a free throw by Woods with 9:14 remaining.
The Anteaters outrebounded the Royals, 40-27, with 15 of UCI's rebounds off the offensive glass. The 'Eaters, who shot 47.4 percent for the game, had 21 assists on 27 baskets in the win. Hope International shot 40.9 percent in the game and committed 18 turnovers to the Anteaters' 15. UCI outscored the Royals 24-8 off turnovers.
The game counted on UCI's record but was an exhibition for NAIA member Hope International, which is 7-1 on the season.
"We knew we were going to have to grind hard defensively against a good team like Hope International," UCI head coach Russell Turner said. "We knew they would come in and try to control the tempo.
"Give my team credit for not hanging their heads after the UCLA game and not questioning what we have asked of them. It was good for them to come out and perform the way they did tonight. We have guys with character and I am proud of them.
"We are 3-3 in December and have one more opportunity to win another game this month and we are excited about opening conference play. We have really solid guys in this program and they believe that progress is being made," Turner added.
UCI opens Big West Conference play at Cal State Northridge Thursday (Dec. 29) at 7:00 p.m.
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