LA JOLLA, Calif. – Freshman DJ Davis had a career-high 23 points as UC Irvine earned a 79-65 non-conference win over UC San Diego, Saturday afternoon at RIMAC Arena.

With its fourth-straight win, UCI improves to 6-4 on the season. UCSD drops to 2-1 overall.

The Anteaters hit a season-high nine three-pointers, finishing 9-21 (.429) from beyond the arc. UCI shot 49.1 percent (26-53) from the floor overall.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Davis' 23 points were a UCI season high. He shot 5-8 from long range and 8-11 from the floor overall
> Dawson Baker finished with 14 points on 6-10 shooting overall and Collin Welp added 11 points. Welp also led the team with six rebounds and three assists
> Jeron Artest finished with three assists while Isaiah Lee grabbed three steals
> UCSD shot 45.6 percent (26-57) from the floor overall and 8-30 (.267) from long range
> UCI held a 34-25 in rebounds and outscored UCSD 45-27 in bench points and 26-22 in paint points
> The Tritons' Bryce Pope finished with 21 points while teammate Toni Rocak had 20

First Half
> The 'Eaters had a sluggish start and did not get on the board until two made free throws from DJ Davis at 15:54 as UCI trailed UCSD, 4-2
> UCI trailed, 11-2, with 13:31 remaining before using a 10-4 run to come within three, 15-12, with 8:38 to play
> Baker scored six-straight points to knot the game, 20-20, with just under four minutes remaining (3:50)
> UCSD went on a 5-0 run before a jumper from DJ Davis at 1:32 to make it 25-22
> The Tritons hit a three with one minute remaining before Welp made two free throws as UCI trailed, 28-24, at the half
> Baker led the 'Eaters with 10 points as UCI shot only 29.6 percent (8-27) from the floor during the half and went 0-8 from long range

Second Half
> A UCSD three-pointer to open the half put the Tritons up seven, 31-24, before UCI used a 10-2 run to take its first lead, 35-33, with 14:46 remaining
> The Tritons would tie the game once more before a 9-0 run from the 'Eaters gave the visitors a lead they would not relinquish, 44-35 (12:48)
> Davis made all five of his three's within a four minute span that lasted from 11:51 to 8:32 that put UCI up by 17, 61-44, its largest lead of the game. Artest also hit a three in that stretch while Andre Henry drove in a layup
> UCSD would cut the Anteater lead to eight, 62-54, (6:16) but UCI answered with a 9-2 run to go up, 71-56, with 2:51 to play
> Layups from Justin Hohn and Baker in the final two minutes capped the scoring for UCI as the Anteaters earned their first road win of the season, 79-65

Quote from Head Coach Russell Turner
"I am pleased to win this game. We looked like a team that has been off for a while but I was pleased with our second half. I was disappointed early with how we played and did not use our size advantage against UC San Diego to get the ball inside. The second half looked entirely different and DJ Davis obviously had a great game. Jeron Artest also made the shots that we expect him to make so that was good to see. On the road any win with a young team is a good win, so we will take it and hopefully get some more games in next week."

Notes: Tonight marked the first points of the season for Dean Keeler … Davis became the first Anteater to hit five three's since Evan Leonard on 2/22/20 … UCI snapped UCSD's 24 game winning streak … Davis' 23 points is the most by an Anteater this season

Up Next
> UCI's next scheduled games are Jan. 22 and 23 against Cal Poly at home