SANTA CLARA, Calif. – UC Irvine turned up the defense late and made important free throws to take down Santa Clara, 69-64 at the Leavey Center Saturday. 

Trailing 62-55, UCI tightened the defense and the offense did the rest, knocking down three-pointers and hitting important free throws to outscore the Broncos 14-2, to end the game. 

The Anteaters dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Broncos, 43-26. UCI went 7-14 from three-point range and 26-61 from the field (42.6%). Santa Clara hit six three-pointers and shot 42 percent from the floor overall (21-50). 

UCI improves to 4-1 on the season, while Santa Clara goes to 5-2.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Forward Collin Welp had a team-high 17 points on 5-8 shooting from the field and 6-8 from the line.Welp also earned the squad's first double-double of the season hauling in 10 rebounds
>Guard DJ Davis knocked down three three-pointers and finished with 13 points
>Justin Hohn was one shy of his season-high with 11 points, matching Davis with three from long distance
>Santa Clara was led by Keshawn Justice's game-high 20 points
 
FIRST HALF
>UCI had baskets by Colin Welp and Austin Johnson followed by a three-pointer by Justin Hohn to take an early 7-0 lead
>The Broncos came up short on their first seven possessions and didn't score until Keshawn Justice knocked down a jumper at 14:57
>A three by Hohn and a gave UCI a 12-2 lead
>Santa Clara would then go on an 8-0 run to move in front 12-11 at 11:35
>PJ Pipes would out-score UCI 8-4 before DJ Davis closed out the first half scoring with a three-pointer as UCI would trail, 36-32 
 

Last shot is GOOD as DJ drills it from long range into the half #RipEm pic.twitter.com/k54EMC0DIb

— UCI Men's Basketball (@UCImbb) November 28, 2021

SECOND HALF
>Pair of blocks by Austin Johnson plus baskets by JC Butler and Hohn knotted the score at 36-36 (17:20)
>Welp scored five to put UCI up 43-40 at 14:35
 

Collin's first 3 gives the 'Eaters the lead back!!

2H 14:35 | UCI 43-40 SCU #TWZ pic.twitter.com/NbhnQnOXIE

— UCI Men's Basketball (@UCImbb) November 28, 2021

>Welp had a pair of free throws and a layup to get UCI within one (49-50) at 8:48, but a three-pointer and a dunk by the Broncos forced a UCI timeout at 8:05 (55-49)
>Santa Clara would hold a 62-55 lead at 4:55 when UCI went to work, using good defense and a driving layup by Dawson Baker (3:13), back-to-back threes by Hohn (2:16) and Davis (1:39) and three free throws by Emmanuel Tshimanga to put the Anteaters in front 68-62 with 26 seconds remaining hitting three of four free throws
>A Bronco was fouled behind the three-point line, making two, before Austin Johnson hit an important free throw to close out the scoring with 13 seconds left, 69-64
 

Hohn fires and ties it!! DJ follows up from downtown for the lead!!

2H 0:56 | UCI 65-62 SCU #TWZ pic.twitter.com/YPHyRMvrtQ

— UCI Men's Basketball (@UCImbb) November 28, 2021

 
HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER
"Really proud of the team for gutting that one out. We hung in there. Santa Clara is a quality opponent, there is no question about that, they have a good team so to come in and beat them on the road is a big deal for us. It's a big step for this young squad to win on the road. We haven't won in a true road environment with this group of guys yet."

NOTES
>UCI snapped Santa Clara's 24 consecutive home non-conference win streak
>The Anteaters defense held the Broncos below their 82 point and 8.7 three-point average per game average
>UCI continued its spotless record against Santa Clara now 6-0 all-time

UP NEXT
UCI returns to the Bren Events Center Friday (Dec. 3) for its lone non-conference game in December. The Anteaters will take on Bethesda (Calif.) at 7:00 p.m.