IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine opened its Big west Conference season with a commanding 75-56 win over UC Santa Barbara Sunday afternoon at the Bren Events Center.

With the win, UCI remains undefeated at home this season and earns a conference opening victory for the third year in a row. The Anteaters improve to 4-4 on the season and 1-0 in the Big West. UCSB drops to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Brad Greene finished with his first double-double of the season behind a team-high 14 points and 12 rebounds
> Collin Welp also finished in double-digits with 11 points while JC Butler and Dawson Baker each had nine
> Justin Hohn finished with a career-high seven points while Hohn and Isaiah lee led the team with four assists apiece
> UCI shot 53.4 percent (31-58) overall and held the Gauchos to just 32.1 percent (18-56) shooting from the floor. The 'Eaters also limited UCSB from long range as the Gauchos went just 3-25 from the three point line
>The 'Eaters held a 39-29 advantage on the boards and also outscored UCSB 46-22 in paint points and 10-4 in second chance points
> Ajare Sanni finished with a game-high 15 points for the Gauchos

FIRST HALF
>UCI went on a 13-0 run that spanned five minutes. It was started by a three-pointer off the backboard by Baker and ended with an Emmanuel Tshimanga basket, 15-3 (13:44)
>The Gauchos climbed back in back with a 9-2 spurt to get to 21-15 at 8:24
>UCSB closed within 30-26 at 3:42 on the strength on five three throws and a jumper by Josh Pierre-Louis
>Butler took over scoring twice to put the Anteaters up 34-26 with 1:03
>The teams traded jumpers to end the half with UCI on top 36-28
>UCI out-scored UCSB 22-6 in the paint in the first half 
 
SECOND HALF
>A pair of free throws and a jumper at the elbow by Baker gave UCI the 40-30 advantage at 18:34
>A basket by Austin Johnson was followed by back-to-back baskets by Hohn to open a 49-34 lead at 13:40
>UCI scored six straight on a basket in the paint by Greene, a jumper stepping on the arc by Dawson Baker and finally Jeron Artest finding a cutting Welp who drove baseline for the layup, 59-41 at 9:11
>The teams would trade buckets until a basket and a pair of free throws by Greene extended the margin to 69-51 at 2:55
>Lee hit two free throws before scoring the Anteaters' final basket with 56 remaining (75-55)
>UCSB's Idehen Robinson had a free throw with four ticks left for the final score 75-56

Quote from head coach Russell Turner
"Tonight was a good win, no question, but it was only one win out of what is scheduled to be 20 games. I do think our guys came ready to play tonight and that our team can be good and I think tonight maybe we made the statement that we are going to be a good team in time. I was pleased with our defensive performance and our execution. I am proud of our effort and everyone looked ready to me to contribute this year."
Notes: UCI is 4-0 at home this season … The 'Eaters have opened the Big West season with a win for the third straight year and sixth straight Big West opening home win … Brad Greene notched his 11^th career double-double … UCI has won two-straight against the Gauchos … The 'Eaters are the only team with a Big West win

Up Next
> UCI will play UCSB again tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Bren Events Center on ESPN3.