IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine's 2012-13 season included a 21-16 overall record (11-7 Big West) and the program's first postseason appearance in 11 years as third-year head coach Russell Turner's 'Eaters advanced to the Second Round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT).
UCI defeated High Point, 80-71, in the CIT First Round before falling at Oral Roberts, 76-62, in the Second Round. The March 25 game at Oral Roberts was the deepest date an Anteater team has played into the season.
The 'Eaters advanced to the championship game of the Big West Conference Tournament for the fourth time in history and the first time in the last five years. UCI topped Hawai'i and No. 1 seed Long Beach State before falling to Pacific in the final.
A look inside the impressive numbers of this year's team:
21 – UCI's 21 victories tied for third-most in the school's 48-year history. The 2000-01 team won a school-record 25 games, the 1981-82 squad won 23 and this season tied the 21 wins recorded by the 2001-02 team.
11 – UCI's 11 Big West Conference wins were the most for the program since the 2002-03 team finished 13-5 in league play.
37 – UCI played a school-record 37 games this season, passing the previous high of 34 by the 2007-08 squad.
9-0 – The 'Eaters' record in Big West home contests this season. UCI was 13-1 overall in games at the Bren Center and Crawford Court.
12-0 – UCI's record this season when holding the opposition to 60 points or less.
16-3 – UCI's record this season when leading at halftime.
12-4 – UCI's record this season when outrebounding its opponent.
15-6 – UCI's record this season when the opposition shot 40 percent or below from the field.
6-1 – UCI's record this season when appearing on Fox Sports West/PRIME or ESPN networks.
.387 – UCI's field-goal percentage defense this season that led the Big West and ranked 15th in the nation.
15.7 – UCI's assist average this season that ranked No. 1 in the Big West and 20th in the country.
162 – Blocked shots by UCI this season to set a school record, breaking the previous mark of 145 held by the 1990-91 team.
224 – Career threes by Michael Wilder to rank No. 3 in UCI history.
272 – Wilder's career assists, which rank 12th in school history.
596 – Career rebounds by Wilder to rank No. 13 in the 'Eaters' record book.
1,082 – Career points scored by Wilder to rank 21st in UCI history.
152 – Career threes by Daman Starring to rank No. 7 in Anteater history.
97 – Career steals by Starring to rank No. 12 at UCI.
1,064 – Career points scored by Starring to rank 22nd in the school record book.
612 – Career rebounds by Adam Folker to rank No. 11 in UCI history.
.572 – Folker's field-goal percentage this season that led the Big West Conference.
88 – The number of blocked shots by Will Davis II this season to set a UCI record. He tied his single-season school record with eight in the Mar. 2 win over Long Beach State and has 143 in just two seasons with the 'Eaters.
32 – Career-high points by Davis in the Mar. 20 CIT First Round win over High Point. Davis hit 13 of 18 shots in the game. In the last 11 games of the season, he averaged 14.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots, and shot 57 percent from the field.
144 – Assists for Alex Young this season to set a UCI freshman single-season record.
2.62 – Young's assist/turnover ratio this season that ranked 16th in the nation.
BIG WEST RECOGNITION: Senior guard Daman Starring, who led UCI in scoring at 12.9 points per game, was named to the All-Big West Second Team.
Senior post Adam Folker received the Big West's "Best Hustle" Award for the second straight season and he also was named to the All-Big West Honorable Mention squad. Folker led the Big West in field-goal percentage at .572.
Point guard Alex Young was named Big West co-Freshman of the Year. Young set a UCI freshman single-season record with 144 assists.
Sophomore post Will Davis II received the Big West's "Best Defensive Player" Award. He led the conference with 88 blocked shots, a new UCI single-season record, and he has 143 blocks in 67 career games.
ALL-BIG WEST TOURNEY HONORS: Three UCI men's basketball players were named to the 2013 All-Big West Tournament Team.
Senior guard Daman Starring averaged 12 points in UCI's three games, sophomore post Will Davis II averaged 11.7 points, 7 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots, and freshman point guard Alex Young averaged 11 points and 3.7 rebounds.
ALL-TOURNEY RECOGNITION FOR McNEALY IN NOVEMBER: Junior guard Chris McNealy was named to the All-Progressive Legends Classic Subregional team at Huntsville, Tex., in November after averaging 11.0 points and 4.0 assists in three games.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: Two 'Eaters earned Big West Player of the Week honors this season.
Daman Starring was named the league's first Player of the Week this season after he recorded 25 points and seven rebounds in UCI's season-opening, 78-64 win over Nevada.
Adam Folker earned the weekly award after averaging 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in February wins over Pacific and UT Arlington.
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: The UCI men's basketball squad earned the Big West Conference Winter Sportsmanship Team Award.
The Sportsmanship Award is voted upon in each of the Big West's 16 championship sports by the respective student-athletes. Each participating student-athlete selects the school that demonstrates excellent conduct in competition and is most deserving of the Big West Sportsmanship Award. The winning teams are chosen at the end of every season (Fall, Winter and Spring).
"The UC Irvine men's basketball program has demonstrated the highest standard of conduct in competition based on the feedback of their peers," said Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell. "I commend them for being positive influences on the court."
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