Irvine, Calif. - Four Anteaters scored in double figures as UC Irvine toppled UC Riverside, 79-40 Wednesday night at the Bren Events Center.
 
UC Irvine upped its overall record to 9-14 while improving to 4-3 in the Big West standings. The Anteaters 39-point margin of victory is the largest win against a conference opponent since Mar. 8, 2003 when UCI beat Long Beach State by 45 points (95-60) in the Bren.
 
A third-straight double digit game from Tommy Rutherford fueled the offense as he hit 5-of-8 from the floor netting 15 points overall. He tallied his second double-double of the season after grabbing 10 boards. Jonathon Galloway also notched his second double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Eyassu Worku and Evan Leonard scored in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
 
As a team, UCI finished with a season-high 55 rebounds, including 43 on the defensive end. The 'Eaters shot 50 percent (32-64) overall and tallied six three-pointers.
 
 UCI held advantages in assists (11-5), steals (5-3) and points in the paint (46-22).
 
The Anteaters led by as many as 20 points in the first half when Leonard made a layup as time expired to give UCI a 39-19 advantage at the half. Rutherford netted a three-pointer early in the game to give the 'Eaters a five-point lead but the Highlanders closed the gap earning their only lead of the game, 10-9, with 15:58 remaining. A Galloway layup ignited a 12-point run that gave the hosts a double-figure advantage they would not relinquish.
 
UCI carried its momentum into the second half increasing its lead to as much as 41 points with five minutes showing on the clock. The Anteaters got 23 points from the bench during the half.
 
Cold shooting doomed the Highlanders (5-15, 0-6) as they finished 2-for-20 (.10) from behind the three-point line and shot 24.6 percent (14-57) overall. Alex Larsson led UCR with eight points and four rebounds followed by Eric Rwahwire with six points. The Highlanders only committed eight turnovers and tallied four blocks.
 
UCI will take a short break from competition before traveling to Long Beach State Wednesday, Jan. 31. FOX Prime Ticket will broadcast the game set to start at 7:30 p.m.


 
NOTES: UCI improves to 41-24 all-time against UCR …40 points is the fewest allowed to a Division I opponent since Nov. 11, 2005 vs. Mississippi Valley State (94-40)…Tommy Rutherford hit a three-pointer for the fourth time this season…It's the third-straight game and seventh time this season Rutherford has lead the team in scoring…Fifth-straight game UCI has lead at the half…19 first half points for UCR was the lowest first half total allowed to an opponent this season by UCI...It was Rutherford's third-straight game scoring in double figures…Eyassu Worku has scored in double digits for nine consecutive games…Elston Jones tied a career high with 8 points…Galloway and Rutherford each recorded their 3^rd career double-doubles.