FOLLOW THE ANTEATERS
UC Irvine (7-7) vs. Pacific (12-3)
Saturday, Dec. 28 |7:00 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center (4,000)| Irvine, Calif.
KUCI Radio/AM830 | Live Stats | Watch
 
Game Notes

UC Irvine returns home after a three-game road stretch and a holiday break to host Pacific Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Bren Events Center.
 
OPENING TIPS
> The Anteaters moved to 7-7 on the season after dropping two-straight games before the holiday break. UCI fell to UTEP, 67-61, in the Don Haskins Invite Championship Game and dropped a 76-67 decision to UIC on Dec. 21
  
> The 'Eaters are 6-1 when leading at halftime but have struggled to win when trailing at half time, going 1-5
 
> UCI has won its last two games played at the Bren by margins of 20+ points including a 77-56 win over Eastern Michigan. The Anteaters are 78-21 at home 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. He is 6^th in the Big West in active career points and leads the conference in career steals (118)
 
> Senior guard Eyassu Worku became the 29th Anteater to reach 1,000 career points after scoring 10 against Pacific Union. Worku became the 10th Anteaters in school history to eclipse 300 assists. He did so at Colorado Monday, Nov. 18. He is the Big West's active career leader in assists (340) and 5^th in scoring (1045)
 
> Senior Tommy Rutherford will be next in line to hit the 1,000 point mark. He has 966 points on his career
 
> UCI has outscored opponents 492-234 in the paint this season. UCI has held the advantage in paint points in 13-out-of-14 games so far
 
> RS sophomore Collin Welp comes off the bench and leads UCI in scoring (13.8 ppg) and in rebounding (6.4 rpg)
 
> UCI has out-rebounded all but one of its opponents this season. The Anteaters rank second nationally in rebounding margin (+11.8) and fourth in total rebounds (575)
 
> UCI is 17^th nationally in field goal percentage defense, holding teams to 37.5% shooting from the field
 
> Head Coach Russell Turner is three 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 196th career win … The 'Eaters would win their first game against the Tigers since 2016 … UCI would win its last game of the calendar year for the first time since 2016

'EATERS COME UP SHORT AGAINST UIC
> UCI allowed UIC to shoot a season-high 49.1% from the floor in a 76-67 loss to the Flames
> The 'Eaters out-scored UIC 45-35 in the second half but were not able to overcome a 41-22 halftime deficit
> Eyassu Worku led UCI with 19 points while Collin Welp had 10. UCI went on a 13-0 run in the second half but fell short of the comeback
> UCI out-rebounded UIC, 37-32

 ABOUT THE TIGERS
> UCI and Pacific have met 13 times this decade as the Tigers hold a 6-7 advantage. UOP is 44-40 all-time against the Anteaters
> Pacific is 12-3 on the season, riding a seven-game win streak that dates back to Nov. 23. The Tigers are coming off a 77-66 win against Idaho State. UOP is 2-1 on the road and 9-1 at home this season
> UCI and UOP met last year in Stockton as the Tigers won an 84-75 overtime decision
> Jahlil Tripp leads the Tigers in points per game (13.0) and rebounds per game (7.5). Justin Moore is also averaging double-digit scoring with 10.9 ppg
> UOP holds opponents to 59.8 ppg and has an 11.2 rebound margin
> Head coach Damon Stoudamire is in his fourth season with a Tigers with a 44-61 overall record

QUICK HITS
> Tommy Rutherford is UCI's active games played leader with 122 consecutive games
> Collin Welp has led the team in scoring in 11 games
> UCI is 6-2 when dishing out more assists than its opponent

UP NEXT
> UCI concludes the non-conference schedule with a game at Harvard Saturday, January 4 at 11 a.m. PT.