IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine used a late scoring run to get back in the win column, defeating Cal Poly, 74-67, Saturday night at the Bren Events Center.
 
With the win, the Anteaters (12-9) improve to 4-1 in Big West play. Cal Poly moves to 1-4 in the Big West and 4-15 overall.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Collin Welp and Evan Leonard led the way for the 'Eaters with 18 points apiece
• Eyassu Worku recorded a career-high ten assists, while adding a team-high two steals
• The Anteaters were paced at the glass by Brad Greene with eight boards. He also chipped in 12 points on a perfect 6-6 shooting from the field
• UC Irvine shot 28-59 (47.5%) from the field, but just 4-20 (20%) from beyond the arc
• The 'Eaters won the battle inside, out-rebounding the Mustangs 46-35
• Junior Ballard was the leading scorer for Cal Poly, logging 17 points while pulling down five rebounds
• The Mustangs hit 9-20 (45%) from three, but just 21-67 (31.3%) overall
• Cal Poly was able to score 19 points off UCI's 12 turnovers while the 'Eaters out-scored the Mustangs, 36-20, in the paint

TURNING POINTS
FIRST HALF

• Buckets from Greene (4 pts) and Leonard (5pts) helped the 'Eaters take an early 9-0 lead at 17:27
• Following a Mustangs three-pointer, the Anteaters used a jumper from John Edgar Jr. and a pair of free throws from Leonard to go ahead by ten points, 15-5 (14:46)
• Cal Poly quickly got back in the game, hitting four treys as part of a 12-2 run to bring it even, 17-17, with 10:31 remaining
• After allowing Cal Poly to jump ahead 24-23, the Anteaters responded with a 6-0 run, including an Edgar Jr. coast-to-coast jumper through traffic, which put the 'Eaters back on top 29-24 at 5:07
• The Mustangs battled back to get within a point, 36-35, but Worku threaded a pass inside to Greene for a layup to give the 'Eaters a 38-35 advantage heading into the half
• Worku recorded a career-high tying eight assists in the first half alone

SECOND HALF

• The teams traded buckets coming out of the break, but the Mustangs converted an and-one off a foul by Greene to tie it at 40 with 18:02 remaining
• Following a bucket from Welp, the Mustangs caught fire going on a 9-2 run to take their first lead since early in the first half, 49-45, with 11:51 remaining
• Welp would score ten-straight Anteater points to help UCI regain the lead, 55-53, at 6:19
• After the Mustangs cut their deficit to one, the 'Eaters used an 8-2 run capped by a three-point play from Welp to build a seven-point lead, 70-63, at 2:05. Artest also contributed five points to the streak
• The Anteaters were able to convert at the line in the final two minutes to maintain the lead and secure a 74-67 win

 
NOTES

• UC Irvine wins their fifth straight game against Cal Poly dating back to Jan. 2017  
• UCI improves to 10-1 on the season when leading at halftime.
• Jeron Artest recorded his 11^th three-pointer of his career and ended with five points
• Head coach Russell Turner earned the 200th win of his career
• Eyassu Worku's 10 assists are the first by an Anteater since Luke Nelson in 2016

 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters travel up north for a conference matchup with UC Davis on Thursday, Jan 30^th at 7pm.