IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine used a stalwart defensive effort to topple Boise State, 58-50, Saturday night at the Bren Events Center.

The UCI (1-1) defense held BSU (1-1) to just 19-59 (.322) shooting from the floor and 3-22 (.136) from behind the arc. Austin Johnson tied a career-best five blocks on the night and UCI won the battle of the boards, 38-37.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Along with five blocks, Johnson added a team-high eight rebounds, five points and two steals
> Collin Welp finished with 11 points and a career-high six assists. Welp also pulled down seven boards
> Dawson Baker also finished in double-digits with 10 points. DJ Davis added nine points and was 3-4 from long range
> UCI shot 40.8 percent (20-49) overall from the floor and 66.7 percent (6-9) from long range
> The Anteater bench outscored BSU, 22-2

First Half
> Welp scored the first four points for the Anteaters before BSU used a 7-0 run to go up, 9-4, at 15:02
> A Davis three-pointer started a 7-0 UCI run that gave the 'Eaters a 14-11 lead with 10:55 remaining
> The Broncos gained a 21-17 edge (6:13) before Johnson had a big dunk to start a 5-2 run that put the 'Eaters ahead, 24-23 (3:49)
> Down the stretch, Baker made a jump shot and Welp had a made free throw as UCI took a 27-25 lead at the half

Second Half
> Boise State would tie things up, 31-31, (16:33) before Davis hit a three followed by a Johnson swatting his third block of night and grabbing back-to-back steals as UCI led, 34-31, with 13:04 remaining
> The Broncos used a 6-2 run to take a one-point, 37-36, lead at nine minutes
> JC Butler grabbed a steal and ran down the court driving layup as part of an 8-0 run for the Anteaters that gave them a lead they would not relinquish
> Baker hit a three to start an 8-2 run that put UCI up, 52-43, with 2:57 remaining
> Welp went 4-4 at the free throw line down the stretch as the Anteaters won their first game of the 2021-22 season with a 58-50 victory

Quote from head coach Russell Turner
"I'm excited that we executed our game plan as well as we did especially on the defensive end and that we got belief from every guy in our locker room that we could do it and that we should do it. We got great contributions from everyone up and down our roster and we showed a lot of growth tonight and I am excited about that."

Notes: Johnson's five blocks tie a career-high … Langston Redfield's five points are a career-high … UCI wins the home-and-home with Boise State to improve to 8-6 in the all-time series … UCI has won its home opener for the eighth-straight year … Over the last two seasons, UCI is 12-1 when holding opponents to 60 points or less

Up Next
> UCI hosts La Verne Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Bren Events Center