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California Baptist at UC Irvine
Saturday, Dec. 7 |7:00 p.m.
Bren Events Center (5,000)| Irvine, Calif.
AM830/KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch
UC Irvine returns to the Bren to host California Baptist Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

Game Notes

SALUTE TO HEROES
Saturday's game will be themed Salute to Heroes to pay tribute to Veterans, Military Service Members, and their families, Several Military Service Members and Veterans will be selected for a special pregame ceremony.

HOLIDAY TOY TOSS
Bring an unwrapped, soft toy, to the game as part of a special Holiday toy collection. Fans will be invited to throw their toy donation onto the floor in a festive halftime program
 
OPENING TIPS
> The Anteaters improved to 5-4 after defeating Eastern Michigan last Saturday, 77-56
 
> UCI has won eight-straight home games dating back to Jan. 16 2019. The Anteaters have amassed a 77-19 home record over the last seven years
 
1,000 Point Watch
> Senior Evan Leonard is eight points away for hitting the 1,000 career points milestone. He currently sits at 992 points
 
> 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 (320)
 
> Worku and Leonard will become the 28^th and 29^th Anteaters to eclipse 1,000 career points at UCI
 
> UCI has outscored opponents 304-140 in the paint this season. UCI has held the advantage in paint points in 8-out-of-9 nine games so far
 
> True freshman Austin Johnson is making an immediate impact on the Anteater roster. He has 17 blocks on the season which ranks 34^th nationally and sixth among freshman
 
> UCI has out-rebounded all nine of its opponents this season. The Anteaters rank third nationally in rebounding margin (+12.8) and sixth in total rebounds (375)
 
> UCI is receiving votes ranked in this week's edition of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll. The 'Eaters entered the year ranked No. 14 and ranked as high as No. 11
 
> 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 win three-straight against the Lancers… Win nine-straight at home

WELP HITS CAREER-HIGHS IN WIN OVER EMU
> Collin Welp hit a career-high 31 points (12-14), making a career-best seven three pointers in UCI's 77-56 victory over EMU
> UCI retired legend Scott Brooks' No. 12 jersey at the half
> The Anteaters handed EMU its first loss of the season and made a season-high 14 three's
> UCI shot 49.1% (28-57) from the field and held the Eagles to just 30.5% (18-59) overall

ABOUT THE LANCERS
> CBU is 3-4 on the season in just its second year as a Division I institution
> The Lancers have lost two-straight dropping games to South Dakota, 84-83 and Georgia State, 69-60
> CBU has three players averaging double-digit points including leading scorer and first team All-WAC selection Milan Acquaah (18.1 ppg), Ferron Flavors Jr. (14.6 ppg) and Dejon Davis (12.0 ppg)
> UCI is 2-0 all-time against the Lancers. The Anteaters won at CBU last season by a score of 69-66. Tommy Rutherford had 14 points while Collin Welp and Eyassu Worku dished out nine and eight points, respectively
> Head coach Rick Croy is in his seventh season with the Lancers and boasts a 148-44 record

UP NEXT
> UCI hosts Pacific Union Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.