UCI Coach Russell Turner Postgame Interview
IRVINE, Calif. --- Three UC Irvine players scored in double figures as the Anteaters pulled away in the second half in defeating UC Santa Barbara, 64-47, in a Big West Conference game on "Think Pink" night at the Bren Events Center Wednesday.
With the win, UCI (14-12, 7-3 Big West) snapped a three-game losing streak and remained in second place in the conference, a half-game behind UC Davis.
Senior center Ioannis Dimakopoulos led the 'Eaters with 15 points, hitting 6 of 7 shots, as UCI won for the 34th time in its last 41 games at the Bren Center.
Senior guard Luke Nelson had 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals while sophomore forward Jonathan Galloway registered his first double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He has pulled down 56 boards in the past five games.
Freshman forward Tommy Rutherford had seven points, five rebounds and three blocked shots, and freshman guard Eyassu Worku added six points, four boards and two assists.
Alex Hart led the Gauchos (3-19, 1-9) with 16 points, hitting all seven of his shots. Eric Childress added 11 points as UCSB lost its seventh straight game.
Dimakopoulos scored nine of his points in the first half as the Anteaters led 27-18 at the break.
It was still a nine-point game at 36-27 with 12:53 remaining before UCI went on an 8-0 run, capped by a three-point play from Galloway, to build the margin to 17 at 44-27 with 10:01 left.
The 'Eaters maintained a double-digit lead the remainder of the game, going up by as many as 21 at 64-43 on a Galloway basket with 2:35 remaining.
UCI outrebounded UCSB, 46-30 as the Anteaters had 14 offensive boards and scored 16 second-chance points.
The 'Eaters shot 41.7 percent from the field to the Gauchos' 34.5 percent as UCI is 67-7 in its last 74 games when holding the opposition under 40 percent.
UCI has won 67 of its last 70 games when limiting the opponents to 60 points or less.
Coach Russell Turner's Anteaters travel to Honolulu to take on Hawai'i Saturday night at 9:30 (PT) in a Big West game.
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