QUOTES
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Sophomore Max Hazzard hit the game-winning jumper with seven seconds remaining to lift third-seeded UC Irvine to a 68-67 victory over sixth-seeded Hawai'i in a Big West Tournament quarterfinal game Thursday at the Honda Center.

With 4:08 left to play, UCI found its spark, going on a 14-2 run that erased a 10-point deficit, retaking the lead, 66-64 with 37 seconds on the clock. Hawai'i's Gibson Johnson hit a jumper, accompanied with a made free throw after a foul was called with 14 seconds left in regulation, making it a 68-67 game. Worku found Hazzard for a 10-foot jumper with seven ticks on the clock to send UCI into the semifinals.

In the final four minute stretch, UCI forced three Hawaii turnovers as Eyassu Worku led the comeback with seven points, followed by Hazzard with five and Evan Leonard with four.

Leonard had a game-high 24 points on 8-13 shooting from the field. Worku tallied 18 points and a team-best four assists, while Hazzard recorded 15 points, including three three-pointers. Leonard was a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line while Worku went 5-7 from the line. Jonathan Galloway grabbed a team-high seven rebounds while Tommy Rutherford pulled down five.

"I am pleased with my team's poise and execution down the stretch, both offensively and defensively," said head coach Russell Turner. "I think a lot of the experiences we have had this year helped us unite. Credit to my guys for believing we could win and making the plays to win. I am proud of this team. I also want to give credit to Hawai'i, the level that they played at was difficult to match."

The Anteaters shot 44.2 (23-52) from the floor and knocked down five three-pointers. Hawai'i was 26-58 from the field, hitting 6-21 from beyond the arc. The 'Eaters held the advantage at the line, going 17-20, while the Rainbow Warriors were 9-14. UCI out-rebounded Hawai'i 36-31 and scored 14 points off of UH's 11 turnovers.

The first half was a defensive battle as neither team led by more than four points and the back-and-forth affair featured four lead changes and three ties. The 'Eaters led by four, 21-17 after a three-pointer followed by a jumper from Worku at the 7:04 mark, but Hawai'i's Thomas scored five points down the stretch including a layup in the final second to give the Rainbow Warriors a slight edge at intermission, 29-26. In the half, Worku tallied 11 points on 4-8 shooting from the field while Hawai'i's Thomas had 10 points on 4-8 shooting overall.

Gibson Johnson and Mike Thomas led the Rainbow Warriors (17-13) with 23 and 14 points, respectively, while Thomas grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. 

UCI (17-16) will play at approximately 9 p.m. tomorrow (Mar.9) against No. 2 seed UC Santa Barbara.

NOTES: UCI is 31-34 at the Big West Conference Tournament … The 'Eaters are 3-0 against Hawai'i at the Big West Tournament … 26 points at the half is the fifth lowest by UCI this season … It was the 11^th time this season UCI scored fewer than 30 points in the first half … Evan Leonard led in scoring for the 14^th time this season and third-straight game … Jonathan Galloway led in rebounds for the 16^th time this year … Eyassu Worku had his 24^th double-figure scoring game of the season.


 
VOTE FOR YOUR PLAYER OF THE GAME - HERE 
1) Max Hazzard 
2) Eyassu Worku 
3) Evan Leonard