UCI Hosts Pacific Union Saturday

FOLLOW THE ANTEATERS
Pacific Union at UC Irvine
Saturday, Dec. 14 |7:00 p.m.
Bren Events Center (5,000)| Irvine, Calif.
AM830/KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch | Tickets

Game Notes

UC Irvine concludes a three-game home stand Saturday, Dec. 14 against Pacific Union at 7 p.m.

OPENING TIPS
> The Anteaters moved to 5-5 on the season after losing a game to California Baptist, 68-60, last Saturday.

> Before the loss to CBU, UCI earned back-to-back wins by margins of more than 20+ points against Louisiana Lafayette, 92-67, and Eastern Michigan, 77-56

> The loss to CBU snapped an eight-game home winning streak that dated back to Jan. 16 2019. The Anteaters have amassed a 77-20 home record over the last seven years

Career Milestones
> Senior Evan Leonard became the 28^th player in school history to accumulate 1,000 career points after scoring 15 against CBU on Saturday. The effort pushed Leonard to 1,007 career points. He is 5^th in the Big West in active career points and leads the conference in career steals (114)

> Senior guard Eyassu Worku is also approaching the 1,000 point mark with 993 career points. Worku became the 10th Anteaters in school history to eclipse 300 assists. He did so at Colorado Monday, Nov. 18 after dishing out three assists and has 306 on the season. He is the Big West's active career leader in assists (326)

> Senior Tommy Rutherford will be next in line to hit the 1,000 point mark. He has 923 points on his career

> UCI has outscored opponents 334-162 in the paint this season. UCI has held the advantage in paint points in 9-out-of-10 nine games so far

> RS sophomore Collin Welp comes off the bench and leads UCI in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg)

> UCI has out-rebounded all but one of its opponents this season. The Anteaters rank sixth nationally in rebounding margin (+10.7) and 26th in total rebounds (410)

> UCI is 12^th nationally in field goal percentage defense, holding teams to 36.3% shooting from the field

> Head Coach Russell Turner is five wins away from becoming UCI's all-time winningiest coach, surpassing Pat Douglass (197 wins)

With a win Saturday … Head coach Russell Turner would reach his 194th career win … The 'Eaters would improve to 1-0 against Pacific Union … UCI would win its first game in December

COLD SHOOTING LEADS TO LOSS AGAINST CBU
> UCI shot a season-low 35.4 percent (23-65) from the floor and just 3-22 (13.6%) from beyond the arc
> The 'Eaters were out-rebounded for the first time all season (43-35)
> Leonard recorded 15 points, grabbing his 1,000 career point, on 6-15 shooting from the floor
> Collin Welp also finished with 15 points
> Brad Greene recorded his third double-double of the season (10 points, 10 rebounds)

ABOUT THE PIONEERS
> PU is an NAIA school that plays in the CAL PAC. The Pioneers are 2-6 on the season with wins against Holy Names and Westcliff. PU most recently lost to Western State Colorado, 94-69
> Marc Williams leads the Pioneers with 10.5 points per game followed by De'Rajee Austin (8.8 ppg)
> Tim Ford averages 5.8 rebounds per games
> PU allows teams to score an average of 93.5 points per game and suffers a -19.8 rebounding margin
> Head coach Greg Rahn is in his sixth season at the helm

UP NEXT
> UCI will participate in the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Monday, Dec. 16 and Tuesday, Dec. 17. The 'Eaters play Kent State Monday at 4 p.m. PT

Schedule

UCI Hosts Pacific Union Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brad Greene

Evan Leonard

Tommy Rutherford

Collin Welp

Eyassu Worku

Footer

Upcoming Events