IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine's depth and balance propelled the Anteaters to an 84-56 win over Hawai'i in a Big West Conference game at the Bren Events Center Saturday night in a matchup that featured last year's league regular-season co-champions.
All 13 UCI players scored in the victory, the fourth straight for the Anteaters (9-9, 2-0), who shot 57 percent from the field, including 62.5 percent in the second half. UCI has won 65 of its last 68 games when limiting the opposition to 60 points or less.
Jaron Martin and Ioannis Dimakopoulos scored 12 points apiece. Martin hit 5 of 8 shots, including both of his three-point attempts, and added five rebounds and a pair of steals.
John Edgar Jr. scored 10 points off the bench, connecting on 4 of 6 from the field for UCI, which is 32-6 in its last 38 home games.
Luke Nelson, Brandon Smith and Tommy Rutherford scored nine points each, and Smith tied his career high with seven rebounds.
Brad Greene pulled down six rebounds and added four points, with Max Hazzard, Eyassu Worku and Evan Leonard also scoring four points apiece. Hazzard had a team-high three assists.
Jonathan Galloway snared five boards for UCI, which outrebounded the Rainbow Warriors, 39-28.
Matthew Owies led Hawai'i (6-9, 0-2) with 13 points while Gibson Johnson scored 11 and Sheriff Drammeh 10.
The 'Bows hit just 3 of 24 threes and shot 36.2 percent from the field on the evening as UCI has won 63 of its last 70 games when holding the opponents under 40 percent.
Hawai'i had an early 9-2 lead and the 'Eaters, after trailing 16-13 with 11:06 left, closed the first half on a 26-4 run to take a 39-20 lead at the break.
"The thing that is great about this group right now is the energy we get from our bench and the way we can rotate players, which allows me to demand defensive intensity and performance, because that's what is going to win for us, Anteater head coach Russell Turner said.
"Tonight, we played real well offensively and controlled the game with our inside dominance."
The Anteaters travel to UC Santa Barbara Thursday for a Big West game at 7:00 before hosting Cal State Fullerton next Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in a conference contest at the Bren Events Center on ESPN3.
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