RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's basketball team clinched the Big West regular-season title outright after defeating UC Riverside 68-47, Saturday night in Riverside.

UCI improves to 25-5 on the season. The 25 wins are the most regular-season wins in program history. The Anteaters also move to 13-1 in conference play and clinch the Big West regular-season title for the fourth time in six seasons.

UCR falls to 9-21 overall and 3-11 in the conference.

Graduate student Jonathan Galloway became UCI's all-time career rebounds leader after he grabbed 11 boards tonight, moving his career total to 927. Galloway breaks a 44-year old school record previously held by Dave Baker (926).

Galloway's school-record setting rebound came on the defensive end with 2:31 left to play. The 'Eaters would call a timeout as the forward received a standing ovation from the crowd as he subbed out.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Galloway's 11 rebounds were a team-high. He also had eight points
> Evan Leonard finished with a game-high 14 points on 4-8 shooting from the floor
> Collin Welp and Robert Cartwright finished in double-digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively
> Max Hazzard had eight points to go along with four assists
> The 'Eaters held advantages in rebounds (35-29), points in the paint (40-18) and points off the bench (29-21)
> UCI shot 47.3 percent (26-55) overall, while the Highlanders shot 40.0 percent from the floor
> UCR was led by Dragan Elkaz with 12 points and Callum McRae with a game-high 12 rebounds

First half
> Leonard scored five early points on a layup and a three-pointer to put UCI up 12-5 with 15:10 remaining
> UCI used an 11-6 run to go up 25-12 at 7:34
> UCR went on an 8-4 run to bring the game within eight, 29-21, with 5:58 to play
> Two made free throws and a layup from Welp had the 'Eaters up in double-digits again, 33-21, (3:45), but the Highlanders scored five points down the stretch to make it 36-27 at the half

Second half
> The teams exchanged back-and-forth points to open the second frame as UCI led by 10 points, 42-32, with 15:24 remaining
> Welp made two free throws to start a 14-0 run for the 'Eaters as they broke open the lead, 56-32, (10:16) and never looked back
> UCR would use a 9-2 run to make it 58-41 with 6:31 to play
> Leonard hit a three-pointer with 5:28 remaining that gave UCI a 22-point lead, 5:28
> UCI went on to win, 68-47

HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER ON TONIGHT'S WIN
"It's a special feeling when as a team you can create an excitement and a following and that's the best part of coaching basketball. These players have made that happen and the crowd and support was great tonight. It was important we stay focused during the game tonight and I thought we did that. I thought our defense and rebounding really carried us tonight."

JONATHAN GALLOWAY ON HIS SCHOOL RECORD
"It feels really special. I've put a lot of hard work and dedication into this program and it was a special moment. I didn't expect coach to call a timeout and my teammates and all the fans going crazy made it an unforgettable moment for me."

UP NEXT
> UCI plays its final regular-season road game at Cal Poly Thursday, March 7 at 7 p.m.

NOTES
> UCI extended its winning-streak to 11 games, its longest since 2000-01
> UCI's 25 wins are the second-most in a total season, including post-season play
> Galloway also appeared in his 139^th game, tying video coordinator and alum Alex Young for the most games played in school history
> The Anteaters swept the series with the Highlanders and win 10-straight against UCR
> UCI is 13-0 this season when holding an opponent to 60 points or less