IRVINE, Calif. – Four Anteaters scored in double figures as UC Irvine toppled UT Rio Grande Valley, 85-74, in its non-conference finale, Thursday night at the Bren Events Center
 
UCI completes its non-conference schedule with a 12-4 record which ties for the most regular season non-conference wins in program history. UTRGV moves to 8-8 on the season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMEBRS
> Elston Jones finished with his first career double-double tallying 10 points and game-high 11 rebounds. Jones also had  three blocks
> Max Hazzard went 6-7 (.857) from three-point range to finish with a game-high 23 points while Eyassu Worku dished out seven assists 
> Evan Leonard and Robert Cartwright also finished in double-digit scoring with 14 and 11 points, respectively 
> UCI notched its best shooting of the season from both the three-point  range, 57.9 percent percent (11-19), and from the field, 55.8 percent (29-52)
> The 'Eaters committed 18 turnovers but out-rebounded the Vaqueros 40-37. UCI also out-scored the visitors 32-24 in the paint
> UTRGV shot 36.6 percent (26-71) from the field and 7-19 (.368) from three-point range while Tyson Smith finished with a team-high 16 points
 
TURNING POINTS
First Half
> UCI took a quick 14-1 lead at the first media timeout (14:44). Leonard hit two 3-pointers while Hazzard had one in that stretch 
> UTRGV went on a 6-0 run to bring the game within seven, 14-7, with 12:25 remaining
> A Hazzard three-pointer started a 12-6 run for the 'Eaters that stretched their lead to 32-17 with 4:45 left to play
>  Collin Welp made a layup before two made free throws from Jonathan Galloway to give UCI its largest lead of the frame, 36-17, with under a minute to play
> The Vaqueros hit a jumper at the buzzer to make it 36-19 at the half
> Jones had nine rebounds while Hazzard went 4-4 from behind three-point line tallying 15 points
 
Second Half
> UTRGV opened up the frame with a 6-3 run to make it 39-25 with 18:39 left to play
> The Anteaters answered scoring seven unanswered points to take a 46-25 lead (16:31) 
> An 8-0 run gave UCI its largest lead of the game, 57-29, at 13:31
> The Vaqueros used an 11-2 run to close the gap, 61-44, with 11:28 to play before Hazzard made two free throws followed by his sixth 3-pointer to give UCI a 66-46 lead (10:54)
> The 'Eaters maintained a 20-point, 85-65, advantage with under two minutes remaining however, UTRGV closed out the game with nine-straight points to make it 85-74 at the final buzzer
 
HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER ON TONIGHT'S WIN
"I am pleased with the win, they are a difficult team to play, but I thought we were focused right from the start and set the tone in the beginning of the game. Overall I thought our team showed a lot of determination and great defense."

UP NEXT
> UCI opens Big West Conference play at home against UC Davis Thursday, January 10 at 7 p.m. 
 
NOTES: 12 wins ties the most regular-season non-conference wins in program history … UCI held UTRGV to 19 first half points, the second fewest points allowed this season in the first half only behind Denver (17 points) … Hazzard has led the 'Eaters in scoring four out of the last five games … Jones 10 points ties a season-high … Worku's seven assist ties a season-high … Galloway had a season-high three blocks