IRVINE, Calif. --- Senior guard Jaron Martin scored a career-high 24 points and sophomore forward Jonathan Galloway pulled down a career-best 14 rebounds to lead UC Irvine over South Dakota State, 73-58, in a non-conference game at the Bren Events Center Monday night.
Martin hit 10 of 19 shots, including 4 of 9 threes, and added four rebounds and three assists as UCI improved to 1-1 on the season.
Freshman guard Evan Leonard scored nine points off the bench, senior center Ioannis Dimakopoulos added eight, while redshirt freshman guard Max Hazzard and true freshman guard Eyassu Worku recorded seven points apiece. Worku also had four boards and three assists.
Freshman forward Tommy Rutherford scored six points, hitting 3 of 5 from the field, and sophomore forward Brandon Smith snared five rebounds and had a career-high three assists.
UCI was without senior guard Luke Nelson for the second straight game due to a hamstring injury. Nelson led the Anteaters in scoring last season and was named to the Big West preseason all-conference team by the media.
Skyler Flatten led the Jackrabbits (0-2) with 12 points and Reed Tellinghuisen added 11 points and six rebounds. Mike Daum registered nine points and a team-high eight boards.
The Anteaters shot 46 percent from the floor, hitting 7 of 21 threes, and were 10 of 11 from the free-throw line.
UCI limited South Dakota State to 28.8 percent from the field as the Anteaters have won 57 of their last 60 games when the opponents shoot below 40 percent. UCI has won 59 of its last 61 contests when the opposition scores 60 points or less.
The 'Eaters led the entire game and were up 37-23 at halftime as Martin scored 11 of his points in the opening 20 minutes and Hazzard added seven.
UCI built its largest lead of the night at 69-45 after a four-point play by Smith with 4:44 remaining.
The Anteaters outrebounded the Jackrabbits, 43-37, and had a 32-20 margin in the paint.
UCI travels to Berkeley to take on California Wednesday night at 8:00 in a non-conference game that will be carried on KUCI/88.9 FM and televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
The 'Eaters host Pacific Saturday evening at 7:00 in the Bren Center before playing 10 of their next 11 games away from home.
Monday night's game against South Dakota State was affiliated with the Sanford Pentagon Showcase, which both teams participate in Nov. 25-27 at Sioux Falls, S.D. The Anteaters and Jackrabbits will meet again Nov. 25 in Sioux Falls, with UCI taking on Milwaukee Nov. 26 and East Tennessee State Nov. 27.
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