Irvine, Calif. – Evan Leonard had a career night unloading 21 points, including five three-pointers to lead UC Irvine over Big West rival Long Beach State, 86-73, at the Bren Events Center Saturday night.
UCI (6-12, 1-1) hit 14 three-pointers on the night, tying the Bren Events Center record which had been set twice before, most recently in 2005 against Santa Clara.
Four Anteaters finished in double figures led by Leonard's 21.
Eyassu Worku,
John Edgar Jr. and
Max Hazzard netted 20, 15 and 14 points, respectively. Leonard and Worku were the first Anteaters teammates to to score 20+ in a game this season. Edgar Jr. also notched his first double-double of the season, grabbing 10 boards. Leonard and Worku each dished out six assists while Hazzard had four.
The Anteaters led by as many as 21 points in the first half when a Hazzard three-pointer made it a 46-25 game at 2:24. The 'Eaters went on an eight-point run ignited by a three from Hazzard with 12:40 remaining in the half, jumping out to a double-digit lead they would not relinquish. Hazzard scored 14 points, 12 of those coming from behind the arc while Leonard tallied 11. UCI netted 11 three-pointers in the half, shooting 61.1 percent (11-18) from long range.
At the break, UCI held advantages in field goal percentage (52.8-38.5) and rebounds (21-15), keeping the Forty-Niners (7-11, 1-1) to just 28.6 percent (2-7) from behind the arc.
LBSU came out of the locker room on a five-point run to make it a 15-point game, 51-36, but the UCI offense continued to dominate, taking 23-point lead, its largest of the game with 15:42 remaining.
The 49ers closed the gap down the stretch out-scoring the hosts 11-4 in the final three minutes, but it wasn't enough as the Anteaters earned their first conference victory of the season.
"We have resilience, and we've stayed together through what has been a difficult non-conference schedule and conference opener, and we were ready to perform tonight," noted head coach
Russell Turner. "The shooting display was something that is not a total surprise to me. I felt like we had this type of performance coming."
UCI shot 48.6 percent (34-70) from the floor, while LBSU hit 44.1 percent (26-59). The Anteaters also held advantages in three-pointers (14-5) and rebounds (44-32).
"I'm most proud of the defensive tone that was set. I felt like we came out and did the things we said we were going to do on that end tonight. If we won 61-60 that would have been fine, but being able to win by scoring a lot of points and also scoring a lot of points is much more fun for everybody."
The Forty-Niners had four players with double-digit scoring. Gabe Levin had a team-high 20 points followed by Temidayo Yussuf (14), Barry Ogalue (11) and Deishuan Booker (10). KJ Byers led LBSU with 10 rebounds.
The Anteaters return to the Bren Events Center to host Orange County rival Cal State Fullerton Thursday, Jan. 11, a matchup that will begin at 7:30 p.m. with FOX Sports West covering the game.
NOTES
UCI's 86 points is the third most this season…51 first half points are the most points scored in the opening half this year…The 20 point halftime lead was the second largest of the year, behind the 26-point advantage against Chapman…It is the fourth consecutive game UCI has out-rebounded its opponent and the 15
th time this season…21 assists is tied for second most this season…It is the 11
th time this season
Eyassu Worku has recorded double-figures and the fourth consecutive game…
Jonathan Galloway moved to 23rd in career rebounds with 506…Galloway has swatted a block in 15 of the last 16 games…It is the fourth time this year
Max Hazzard has drained four or more three-pointers.
