DAVIS, Calif. – Five Anteaters scored in double-figures as UC Irvine earned a decisive 80-65 win over UC Davis, Saturday night at the Pavilion.

With the win, UCI remains atop the Big West standings with a 5-1 record and improves to 13-9 overall. UCD falls to 2-4 in the conference and 8-14 on the season.

The Anteaters exceled on both sides of the ball, shooting 57.6 percent (34-59) overall from the field and dominating the boards, 38-24.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Eyassu Worku finished with a game-high 19 points on 8-14 shooting from the field. He also had three assists and two steals
> Collin Welp had a double-double, his fourth of the season, with 16 points and 10 rebounds
> John Edgar Jr., Tommy Rutherford and Evan Leonard finished in double-digits with 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Edgar Jr. also dished out four assists
> The Aggies shot 38.6 percent (22-57) from the floor and 40 percent (9-22) from long range
> UCD was led by Elijah Pepper with 18 points
> UCI dominated the paint, 40-12

First Half
> UCI came out with intensity and quickly took a double-digit lead, 13-4, at the first media timeout (15:57)
> The Aggies answered with a 10-0 run to make it, 17-14, at 13:21
> UCI went on a 14-3 run to gain a 12-point, 29-17, lead with 8:23 to play, holding the Aggies to just three made free throws in the stretch
> Back-to-back layups from Worku ignited a 12-2 run that put the 'Eaters up, 39-19, with 3:33 remaining
> Worku poured in his sixth field goal of the half, hitting a jumper with 2:16 to play to send UCI into the locker rooms with a 43-27 lead
> Worku finished the half with a team-best 13 points

Second half
> The Aggies hit two three's to start the half cutting the lead, 45-35 (18:00)
> Rutherford made back-to-back layups to put UCI up by 15, 58-43, with 10:22 to play. UCD answered with a 9-2 run to cut the lead to eight, 60-52, at 8:53
> UCI used a 10-0 to break open the lead, 77-57 (3:48). Welp had six points in that stretch
> A Jeron Artest three kept UCI up by 20, 80-60, with 2:35 remaining. The Aggies ended the game with four points to make the final, 80-65

Notes: First time five Anteaters scored in double-figures since Pacific Union (12/14/19) … Collin Welp notched the fifth double-double of his career … UCI won its third-straight games against the Aggies … UCI and UCD will meet next week (Feb. 6)

UP NEXT
> UCI plays Cal State Fullerton Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.