UC Irvine (8-4, 4-0) at Hawai'i (4-4, 2-4)
Friday, Jan. 29 | 9 p.m. PT
Stan Sheriff Center | Manoa, Hawaii
AM 830 & KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –BigWest.tv

UC Irvine (8-4, 4-0) at Hawai'i (4-4, 2-4)
Saturday, Jan. 30 | 4 p.m.
Stan Sheriff Center |Manoa, Hawaii
KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –BigWest.tv

Game Notes
 
UC Irvine gears up for its first Big West road series of the series with two games on the Big Island. UCI plays Hawai'i Friday and Saturday (Jan. 29-30) at 9 p.m. PT (7 p.m. HT). Both games can be streamed on BigWest.TV.

Suits and Sneakers Week
> UCI is participating in Suits and Sneakers Week this week, Jan. 25-31
> Suits and Sneakers is a nationwide initiative of Coaches vs. Cancer, uniting basketball coaches across the country for a common cause  - saving lives from cancer
> UCI coaches will be wearing sneakers during this weekend's games to bring awareness to the cause.

OPENING TIPS
> The Anteaters opened the Big West season 4-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 squad opened up 6-0. UCI has won six in a row, marking the seventh time in the last eight seasons UCI has had a win streak of that length. The 'Eaters have won their last three games by double-digits
> The 'Eaters have won four straight games in Honolulu, a streak that dates back to the 2016 season. UCI is 19-2 in its last 21 road games. However, UCI's only road win of the 2020-21 season came at UCSD on Jan. 9
> UCI has won six-straight against the Rainbow Warriors a streak that dates back to Feb. 15, 2018 and are 14-5 against UH in the Russell Turner era.
> The 'Eaters are 31-4 in Big West regular season games over the last two-plus seasons
> Freshman Dawson Baker has had a strong start for UCI, finishing in double-digit scoring eight-out-of-10 games he has played in. He set a career-high 21 points against La Sierra and is averaging 12.2 ppg. He also led the 'Eaters in scoring against USC (17 points). He tops all Big West freshmen in scoring
CAREER RECORD WATCH
> Brad Greene became the 24^th Anteater in history to reach 500 career rebounds after finishing with eight at SDSU. He now sits at 573 career boards which puts him at 18th all-time. Greene has 666 career points and this season he is averaging 10.1 points per game. He had a career-high 20 points in UCI's season-opener against Pepperdine
> Collin Welp is approaching 1,000 career points. The junior currently sits at 886 points
> UCI's returning leading scorer Collin Welp scored in double-digits in all of the 'Eaters first four Big West games. Welp is first on the team averaging 12.6 ppg overall and 15.0 in BWC games. He also notched a career-high 19 rebounds at LMU and averages 6.6 rebounds per game
> UCI has outrebounded 9-of-12 opponents and has a +11.0 rebound margin through 12 games. The 'Eaters rank 5^th in the nation in rebound margin
> Head coach Russell Turner ranks sixth all-time on the Big West coaching wins list with 217. He just surpassed LBSU's Dan Monson (214). Turner is one of seven BW head coaches with 200 or more wins
> 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).
> 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.
> UCI's non-conference schedule was ranked as the 15^th hardest in the country by KenPom
> The 'Eaters are 93-21 at home over the last eight years and are undefeated this season (7-0)

With a win Friday … UCI will stay undefeated in BWC play, improving to 5-0 … Win five straight in Honolulu … Win seven-straight against the Rainbow Warriors … Extend their win streak to seven games

'EATERS SWEEP MUSTANGS
> UCI stayed undefeated in Big West play and at home after sweeping Cal Poly in two games last weekend. The 'Eaters earned a 19-point win (68-49) on Jan. 22 and followed that up with a 23-point, 67-44, victory on Jan. 23
> Collin Welp led the Anteaters in scoring in both games with 15 and 18 points, respectively. Greene took care of the defensive end with 8 and 7 rebounds, respectively
> During game one, UCI shot 40.7 percent overall and held the Mustangs to 37.5 percent shooting from the field. The 'Eaters held a 41-27 advantage in rebounds
> In game two, UCI outscored Cal Poly 39-21 in the second half and held the Mustangs to just 27.9 percent (12-43) shooting overall. 44 points is the fewest allowed by an opponent this season.
> JC Butler finished with a career-high 15 points including a career best three three-pointers made. Butler also hit a career mark in steals (4)

BIG WEST PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
> UCI has had two Big West Players of the Week this season. Collin Welp earned the honor for the week of Dec. 21-28, while freshman DJ Davis was POW for the week of Jan. 4-10
> After UCI's sweep of UCSB, junior Collin Welp was named the Big West Player of the Week
> Welp averaged 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in UCI's two wins. He shot 44.4% (12-27) from the field while adding two steals and a block
> Davis earned POW honors after a non-conference win at UCSD, marking the first time an Anteater freshman earned the accolade since Luke Nelson in 2014
> Davis finished the game with a career-high 23 points and a career-best five three's made. He went 8-11 from the field and 5-8 from long range. Davis added two assists, a rebound and a steal and helped UCI win its fourth-straight game

ABOUT THE RAINBOW WARRIORS
> UH is coming off a road series split at CS Fullerton, including a 76-53 win that snapped a four-game losing streak. The 'Bows are 2-4 in conference and 4-4 overall
> Four players average double-digits for UH, including James Jean-Marie (13.8 ppg), Justin Webster (12.9), Casdon Jardine (11.6) and Junior Madut (10.9). Jean-Marie leads the Big West in FG percentage (.635)
> Head coach Eran Ganot is in his sixth season at UH with a 90-60 overall record

UP NEXT
> UCI hosts CSU Bakersfield Friday and Saturday (Feb. 5-6). Friday's game will tip at 4 p.m. on ESPN3 while Saturday's contest will be nationally broadcast on ESPNU at 7 p.m.