Radio: Live broadcasts will be available on KUCI 88.9 FM and ucirvinesports.com
with play-by-play from Trent Rush. Saturday's broadcast will also be heard on KLAA AM 830
TV: Links to broadcasts for each game can be found on via ucirvinesports.com
Thursday's broadcast on ESPN3 will be commentated by Tim Becwar and Richie Schueler
 
150 - Head Coach Russell Turner registered his 150th career win Saturday. He's the third UCI coach to reach the mark joining Bill Mulligan (1980-91) at 163 wins and Pat Douglass (1997-2010) with the all-time mark at 197 wins

15 - After hardly seeing the same starting five through the season's first 14 matches, UCI has now gone 15 straight matches with the same starting five of John Edgar Jr. Jonathan Galloway, Evan Leonard, Eyassu Worku, and Tommy Rutherford

10th - Jonathan Galloway hauled in 11 rebounds at UC Riverside jumping four spots in the program's all-time leaders to 10th with 619. Next on the list are Anteater legends Ben McDonald (670) and Kevin Magee (690)

8-3 - UC Irvine entered the week 8-3 and a game behind Big West leader UCSB, a familiar spot to the 2016-17 campaign when UCI was also 8-3 through 11 games and won 4 of 5 down the stretch to win the Big West with a 12-4 record
 
The Anteaters return to ESPN with an ESPN3 broadcast for Thursday's game vs. Hawai'i. UCI's Feb. 22 home matchup with UC Santa Barbara will be featured on FOX Sports Prime Ticket, and could be selected as a wild card in the final two regular season matchups at Hawai'i and vs. UC Davis. The 'Eaters this season have gone 5-5 in broadcasted games this season and 4-2 on the ESPN family of networks.

Hawai'i to this point of the season is 13-10, but on a five-game losing streak dropping them to sixth in the Big West at 4-6. The Rainbow Warriors finished non-conference play at 9-4 playing 12 of 13 games at home. Hawai'i and CSUN will square off in Hawai'i before coming to the mainland to face the 'Eaters. The five road matches have been losses at Utah, UCSB, Cal Poly, and Long Beach State with a 19-point win at CSUN mixed in.

UCI and Hawai'i are meeting for the 19th time with UCI leading 11-7 and 8-4 under coach Turner. UCI has a one-game edge in each location going 4-3 in the Bren and 5-4 in Hawai'i all-time. The series has seen a sweep in each of the last three seasons, twice by the 'Eaters including both matchups in 2017.

Mike Thomas paces the team leading them in scoring (13.7 PPG) and rebounding (6.1 RPG). Sheriff Drammeh is also averaging 10.8 PPG on a team scoring 71.4 points a game behind six different Rainbow Warriors averaging at least 7.5 points a contest.

The 'Eaters trek to Cal Poly on Saturday returning after an 80-73 victory at home in the first matchup. After a surprise win over UCSB to start conference play, Cal Poly lost six straight which included the 'Eaters in that stretch. Since the matchup, the Mustangs incurred double-digit losses to CSUN, LBSU, and UC Davis before getting a pair of home wins against UC Riverside and Hawai'i. Into this game, they're riding a two-game losing streak, both double digits to CSF and LBSU, and will play UC Davis at home on Thursday. CP has earned six of its eight wins at home.

Victor Joseph and Donovan Fields enter with identical 13.6 scoring averages. Each put up double figures in the last game with Fields adding four assists, but the load fell on Josh Martin who took it and posted a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Cal Poly's strength lies in its ability to hold onto the ball top 50 in the nation in fewest turnovers. It also excels at the free throw line at 76.7% led by Fields' 92.9%, fourth-best in the NCAA. This matchup will pit the conference's top two teams at three-point attempts in the conference. CP averages 23 attempts a game and makes 8.4 during conference games. They sit near the bottom in most every other category which includes a –7.5 rebounding margin.

ANT-ALYTICS
UC Irvine's non-conference schedule ranks as the fifth-toughest in the NCAA equipped with 12 games away from home and six tournament teams from a year ago. The trek covered 11,715 miles with the Anteaters playing games in 10 different states.

CoachStats.net recently came out with the top 25 rankings of coach behind today's best defenses from all three NCAA Divisions, and Russell Turner is ranked No. 1. The list names coaches whose careers go from defensive stops taking into consideration defensive rebounds, fewest fouls, FG% defense, forced turnovers, scoring defense, total blocks and steals, and 3pt FG defense.

The team's defense has ascended to the top of the Big West and 71st in the country allowing 68.1 points per game.

Anteater rebounding averages 41.5 per game, sixth in the nation, and has grabbed 1,120 total rebounds, second-most in the NCAA, just six behind NCAA leaders North Carolina (1,126). UCI's 29.0 defensive rebounds per game is 11th-best in the nation, offensive rebounds stand at 12.5 per game, 32nd-best, and eighth-best rebound margin at +7.7.

Jonathan Galloway reached 100 career blocks earlier in conference play. His team reached 100 on the season at LBSU and is 65th nationally with 4.3 blocks per game, and stand 47th nationally with 116 total blocks thanks to a 6-block night from Elston Jones against CSUN
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Galloway also joined the Anteater 600-rebound club, the 14th all-time in program history. He's currently at 619 career rebounds, now 10th in the program's all-time records after surpassing Ricky Butler, Adam Folker, Jerry Maras, and Jeff Von Lutzow with his 11 rebounds at UC Riverside.

UC Irvine is allowing opponents to shoot just 39.2% on the season, 9th-lowest in the nation. UCI is 1 of 15 programs holding its opponents under 40% shooting trailing schools Cincinnati, Michigan State, Virginia, Syracuse, UCF, New Mexico State, Texas Tech, and Houston. UC Irvine's defensive field goal percentage ranked sixth in the nation in 2016-17.

Through 11 conference games, the 'Eaters lead the Big West rebounds per game (41.4), defensive rebounds per game (29.5), rebound margin (+9.7), scoring defense (61.4), scoring margin (+8.5), FG% defense (38.2%), and 3pt defense (28.1%). They're also among the top three in offensive rebounds per game (2nd - 11.8).

Anteater leaders through 11 conference games include:

Evan Leonard now eighth with 15.3 points per game. He's also top 10 in FG % (9th - 47.5%), steals (2nd - 1.9 SPG), 3pt % (8th - 43.6%) and 3pt makes (2nd - 2.2 3PG)
 
Eyassu Worku is not too far behind in scoring (T14th - 12.9 PPG) and also shows up in assists per game (8th - 3.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (10th - +1.2), and also is the only 'Eaters' leader in minutes in Big West play ranking 21st with 30.0 minutes per game

Jonathan Galloway ranks top 100 nationally in blocks (80th - 41), blocks per game (100th - 1.52) and rebounds (88th - 207). In conference play, he's top 10 in rebounding (2nd - 8.2 RPG), offensive rebounds per game (T2nd - 2.9), defensive rebounds per game (5th - 5.3), and blocks (8th - 0.8 BPG).

Tommy Rutherford's conference play has earned him a top 10 spot in rebounding (8th - 6.5 RPG), defensive rebounds per game (T8th - 4.8), and FG% (3rd - 57.3%). His overall field goal percentage of 59.9% on the season leads the Big West Conference.
Max Hazzard continues to shine with 1.7 3-pointers made per game (9th).

Elston Jones leapt into the rankings as well after his stellar performance vs. CSUN now T5th in blocks per game (0.9) as well as rebounds per game (12th - 5.5), and offensive rebounds per game (5th - 1.9)

RECENT GAME RUNDOWN
UC Irvine's win at UC Riverside for the third straight allowing 60 points or less, seventh time all season, and sixth in conference play. The 'Eaters have allowed 54.8 points per game during their five-game win streak

For the first time this season, four Anteaters played 30+ minutes in a game in the win at UC Riverside including John Edgar Jr.'s 32 minutes that was a new career high.

Evan Leonard recorded five steals on Saturday, a new career high, and the most since Alex Young's five he posted in a win at Long Beach State, Jan. 14, 2016.

Tommy Rutherford has led the team in scoring in five of the last seven games raising his scoring average on the season each time, and the 'Eaters are 4-1 in those games. He also finished with his third double-double of the season against CSUN and fourth in his career

UC Irvine foul shooters have now made 59 of their last 79 shots from the line. The 'Eaters have shot better than 80% from the line in three of their last four games. Prior to that, they had only done it once all season (81.0% vs. Idaho)

Elston Jones set a team high this season with six blocks against CSUN eclipsing Brad Greene's total of five vs. Chapman. Jones' previous career high was three set at Utah State. He's also snagged at least five rebounds in 11 of his last 13 contests
Justin Wertner returned to the court snagging a pair of rebounds in three minutes, it was his first action in 13 games due to an ankle injury last seeing the court December 9 at UT Rio Grande Valley

UCI's win over Cal State Fullerton was only the second game this season where UCI has never trailed (Nov. 14 vs. Chapman). It also had its lowest bench production in a game this season with just 10 bench points, and the five-point margin of victory was its smallest of the season

UCI allowed CSF to shoot 32.8%, third-lowest percentage given up to a Division I opponent (24.6% to UC Riverside, 29.8% to South Dakota State). The percentage was also CSF's second-lowest in a game and fourth time held under 40% shooting from the field

The win at Fullerton was the second time this season UC Irvine never trailed at any point, the other was the home win against Chapman

The win at the Pyramid gave UC Irvine an 11-7 advantage in the Black and Blue Rivalry Series, after nine meetings between the schools over six different sports. Women's basketball posted its first 100-point game since 1979 in a win over LBSU Saturday to boost UCI's lead in the series to 14-7

Evan Leonard posted 30 points in the win at LBSU, the first 30-point scorer for UC Irvine Jaron Martin dropped 33 at New Mexico State in an overtime loss, Dec. 19, 2016.

This was the third time under head coach Russell Turner that UC Irvine has swept LBSU in the regular season (2013-14 & 2015-16)

The 47 second half points for UCI at LBSU were the second-most in the second half against a Division I opponent this season (48 at Denver). They would then top that with 49 vs. CSUN on Wednesday

The win at LBSU was the second this season in which the 'Eaters had trailed at the half, the other came in Las Vegas when UCI erased a six-point halftime lead against Northern Arizona to win by six. UCI has led at the half in 7 of 9 conference games going 5-2 in them with losses vs. CSF and at UCSB

NEWS & NOTES
Brandon Smith was named to the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team scoring 18 points, dishing out four assists, and adding a pair of steals over an average of 21.5 minutes in the split against Rider and Northern Arizona.

Under head coach Russell Turner, UCI has won 114 games over the last five years, advancing to the postseason each of those years (2013 CIT, 2014 NIT, 2015 NCAA, 2016 CIT and 2017 NIT).

UCI has recorded five consecutive 20-win seasons, including 21-15 in 2016-17. In the past five seasons, UCI is 114-66 overall and 60-22 in Big West Conference games.

Coach Turner scored his 150th career victory at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 3 making him the third Anteater head coach in men's basketball to win at least 150 games.

The 'Eaters were 12-4 in Big West play last season, winning those 12 by an average of 18.0 points.

UCI was 11-2 at home last season and enters 2017-18 winners of 37 of its last 44 games (.841) in the Bren Events Center.

UCI has won a conference-best 60 Big West games over the last five seasons (60-22, .732).

UCI has won outright, or shared, the Big West regular-season title three of the last four years, including the last two.

The Anteaters were picked to finish first in the Big West Preseason Poll garnering 14 of the 26 first-place votes, however, no 'Eaters were represented on media Preseason All-Big West squad.

College Sports Madness named three Anteaters to its Preseason All-Conference squad including Tommy Rutherford, Eyassu Worku, and Jonathan Galloway. Russell Turner was also mentioned as Preseason Coach of the Year for the publication.

The Anteaters ranked sixth in the nation last season in field-goal percentage defense at .383. The Anteaters were 17^th in rebound margin (6.7) and 29^th in scoring defense (64.8).

The 'Eaters have blocked 744 shots over the past four seasons for an average of 5.2 per game.  UCI returns three of its top four shot-blockers from last season.

The 'Eaters have won 72 of their last 77 games when holding the opposition to 60 points or less.

Entering the season, UCI was 71-9 in its last 80 games when limiting the opposition to under 40-percent shooting from the field.

UCI had a tough non-conference schedule featuring six teams that saw action in the NCAA Tournament last season. The ledger clocks in as the 11th-toughest in college basketball this season.