UC Irvine (3-4) vs. UC Santa Barbara (4-1)
Sunday, Dec. 27 | 4 p.m.
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
AM 830 & KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch – ESPN3

UC Irvine (3-4) vs. UC Santa Barbara (4-1)
Monday, Dec. 28 | 4 p.m.
Bren Center Center | Irvine, Calif.
AM 830 & KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –ESPN3

Game Notes | 'Eater Digest
 
UC Irvine opens the Big West season at home with back-to-back games against UC Santa Barbara Sunday, Dec. 27 and Monday, Dec. 28 at 4 p.m. Both games will be streamed on EPSN3 with the broadcast team of David Gascon, Richie Schueler and Jill Painter Lopez.

Per the direction of the Big West Board of Directors, the Anteaters will begin the season without spectators in attendance. The issue of fan attendance will be revisited as the season progresses.

Anteater fans can still purchase a "Defend the Bren" fan cutout here.

OPENING TIPS
> The Anteaters finished the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 3-4 record. UCI earned wins against Bethesda, La Sierra and San Diego.
> UCI and UCSB will meet as the Big West's No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the preseason media poll, respectively
> Last season, UCI and UCSB split the series with each team winning on their home court.
> UCI is undefeated at home this season (3-0) and has won each home game by 30+ points. The 'Eaters are 90-21 at home over the last eight years
> Freshman Dawson Baker has had a strong start for UCI, finishing in double-digit scoring six-out-of seven games. He set a career-high 21 points against La Sierra and is averaging a team-high 12.1 ppg. He also led the 'Eaters in scoring against USC (17 points)
> Brad Greene became the 24^th Anteater in history to reach 500 career rebounds after finishing with eight at SDSU. He now sits at 534 career boards which puts him at 20th all-time
> Greene led the 'Eaters in scoring in the first two games (against Pepperdine and SDSU), grabbing a career-high 20 points against Pepperdine and following that up with 11 points at SDSU. He is averaging 10.4 ppg.
> UCI's returning leading scorer Collin Welp scored in double-digits in the 'Eaters first four games. Welp is second on the team averaging 11.4 ppg. He also notched a career-high 19 rebounds at LMU and leads the team on the boards (6.9 rpg)
> UCI has outrebounded 4-of-7 opponents (SDSU, Bethesda, La Sierra, San Diego) and has a +11.6 rebound margin through seven games. The 'Eaters ranked 18^th in the nation in rebound margin
> Last season, the Anteaters won their fifth Big West regular season title in seven seasons and eighth in program history. It was also the first time in history UCI won back-to-back outright titles. The 'Eaters did so with a 13-3 conference record, winning three more games than second place UCSB. Since 2013-14, Russell Turner's program is 88-24 (.786) in Big West play.
> The 2020-21 Anteaters have the second youngest team (Navy is first with 19 underclassman) in the NCAA with 13 underclassman and just two upperclassman. UCI is also tied with Auburn for the least number of upperclassman on the roster (2).
> Sophomore Austin Johnson and RS freshman Emmanuel Tshimanga both posted their first career double-doubles against Bethesda. Johnson finished the night with a game-high 20 points and career-high 16 rebounds while Tshimanga grabbed 12 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson is second on the team averaging 6.7 rpg.
> UCI's non-conference schedule was ranked as the 15^th hardest in the country

With a win Sunday … UCI will win its conference opener for the third-straight year … Stay undefeated at home (4-0) … Win two-straight against the Gauchos

'EATERS ROLL PAST TOREROS
> UCI ended its conference slate with a 32 point win against San Diego, 85-53
> The 'Eaters lead for the entire 40 minutes and shot 51.6 percent from the floor overall. UCI held the Toreros to 34 percent shooting overall and held a 44-21 rebound advantage
> Collin Welp led the 'Eaters with 16 points while Isaiah Lee added a career-best 11 points and dished out six assists

ABOUT THE GAUCHOS
> UCSB is 4-1 on the season coming off a 75-63 win at Pepperdine. The Gauchos also split a pair of game against LMU and won a game against Bethesda.
> UCI is 42-53 all-time against UCSB and won the last meeting on Feb. 29, 2020 at the Bren Events Center. The 'Eaters are 13-9 against the Gauchos in the Russ Turner era
> JaQuori McLaughlin leads UCSB with 18 ppg while Ajare Sanni and Amadou Sow average 12.8 ppg and 12.5 ppg, respectively. Miles Norris leads the Gauchos with 6.2 rebounds per game
> Head coach Joe Pasternack is in his fourth season at the helm

UP NEXT
> UCI travels to CSUN for two games Jan. 1-2 at 4 p.m. on ESPN3.