UC Irvine (11-7, 7-3) at CS Fullerton (5-6, 4-6)
Friday, Feb. 19 | 5 p.m. PT
Titan Gym | Fullerton, Calif.
AM 830 & KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –BigWest.TV

UC Irvine (11-7, 7-3) at CS Fullerton (5-6, 4-6)
Saturday, Feb. 20 | 5 p.m. PT
Titan Gym | Fullerton, Calif.  
KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –BigWest.TV

Game Notes
 
UC Irvine travels down the road to Fullerton for two road Big West games against the Titans. UCI will play at CSF Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb 20 at 5 p.m. on BigWest.TV.

Coaches to Honor John Thompson with Towel Initiative
The UCI coaching staff will participate in the NABC's initiative to pay tribute to John Thompson Jr. this week by wearing commemorative towels over their shoulders during games – mirroring the late coach's signature sideline look.

OPENING TIPS
> The Anteaters split last weekend at UC Riverside to move to 7-3 in the Big West and 11-7 on the season. UCI is second in the Big West standings behind UCSB. UCI won both games against UCSB earlier this season. The Anteaters split their last three Big West series, at Hawaii, home against CSU Bakersfield and at UC Riverside. Before the splits, UCI was riding a seven-game winning streak that dated back to Dec. 17.
> Since 2012-13, UCI is 110-7 when holding opponents to 60 points or less, including 8-1 this season
> The 'Eaters top the conference in rebounds per game (39.11) and are second in steals per game (7.5), scoring defense (62.8 ppg), and field goal percentage defense (.395)
> Collin Welp is the only Big West player ranking top 10 in scoring (7^th, 13.7 ppg) and rebounding (4^th, rpg)
CAREER RECORD WATCH
> Brad Greene became the 15^th Anteater in history to reach 600 career rebounds against CSU Bakersfield. He now sits at 624 career boards which puts him at 12th all-time. Greene has 726 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 19 points away from becoming the 31^st Anteater to reach 1,000 career points. The junior currently sits at 981 points. He had a season-high 27 points at UC Riverside (Feb.13) last weekend
> UCI's returning leading scorer Collin Welp scored in double-digits in 9-out-of-10 Big West games. Welp is first on the team averaging 13.7 ppg overall and 15.5 in BWC games. He also notched a career-high 19 rebounds at LMU and averages 6.9 rebounds per game
> Freshman Dawson Baker has had a strong start for UCI, finishing in double-digit scoring nine-out-of-16 games he has played in. He is second on the team averaging 10.1 ppg and set a career-high 21 points against La Sierra. He also led the 'Eaters in scoring against USC (17 points).
> UCI has outrebounded 12-of-18 opponents and has a +8.4 rebound margin through 18 games. The 'Eaters rank 12^th in the nation in rebound margin
> Head coach Russell Turner ranks sixth all-time on the Big West coaching wins list with 220. He is two wins away from tying for 5^th all-time in the Big West. This season, he 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
> Since 2012-13, UCI is 95-22 overall and 59-12 against Big West opponents at home. The 'Eaters are currently 8-1 at the Bren this season

With a win Friday … UCI would win six straight against CSF … Fourth-straight at Fullerton

UCI EARNS SPLIT AT UCR
> UCI dropped the first game of its two-game series at UCR, 86-65, but rebounded to earn a 73-67 on night two
> DJ Davis led the 'Eaters with 21 points on the first night followed by Collin Welp with 11. UCI shot 40.7 percent (24-59) from the field overall while the Highlanders went 14-26 (.538) from long range and shot 52.5 percent (21-59) overall
> It was the first time the 'Eaters dropped game one of a two game Big West series this season
> Welp led the 'Eaters with a season-best 27 points in UCI's second game win over UCR. He finished with 13 rebounds, picking up his second double-double of the season
> UCI out0rebounded UCR 45-30 and outscored the Highlanders 30-16 in the paint

ABOUT THE TITANS
> CSF is coming off a two-week COVID-19 related pause
> The Titans last played at CSU Bakersfield Jan. 29-30, earning a series split. CSF is 5-6 overall on the season and 4-6 in conference play
> Four Titans average double-digit scoring including Tray Maddox Jr. (15.2 ppg), Dante Maddox Jr. (11.3 ppg), Wayne Arnold (11.0 ppg) and Vincent Lee (10. 9 ppg). Josh Hall leads the team with 7.7 rpg. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. ranks fourth nationally in ft percentage (.946)

GREENE SELECTED AS CANDIDATE FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Senior Brad Greene was named one of 30 candidates for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award. Greene is the first UCI player to be recognized for the prestigious award. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as a Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

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

UP NEXT
> UCI returns home for its final series at the Bren Events Center. The Anteaters host UC San Diego Feb. 26-27 at 4 p.m.