UC Irvine (12-8, 8-4) vs. UC San Diego (5-8)
Friday, Feb. 26 | 4 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
AM 830 & KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –ESPN3

UC Irvine (12-8, 8-4) vs. UC San Diego (5-8)
Saturday, Feb. 27 | 4 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.  
AM830& KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –ESPN3

Game Notes
 
UC Irvine plays its final two home games this weekend in a non-conference tilt against UC San Diego Friday and Saturday Feb. 26-27. Tip times are set for 4 p.m. The games will be streamed on ESPN3.

Big West Tournament to be Held Without Fans
The Big West Conference announced Monday that the 2021 Air Force Reserve Big West Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will be held without spectators, which includes the general public, as well as family and guests of team personnel.

OPENING TIPS
> The Anteaters split last weekend at Cal State Fullerton to move to 8-4 in the Big West and 12-8 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 four Big West series, at Hawaii, home against CSU Bakersfield at UC Riverside and at CS Fullerton
> 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 (40.05), rebound margin (8.8), blocks per game (3.6) and are second in steals per game (7.5) field goal percentage defense (.392)
> Collin Welp is the only Big West player ranking top 10 in scoring (8^th, 14.0 ppg) and rebounding (3rd, 7.65 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 643 career boards which puts him at 12th all-time. Greene has 738 career points and this season he is averaging 9.7 points per game. He had a career-high 20 points in UCI's season-opener against Pepperdine
> Collin Welp became the 31^st Anteater to reach 1,000 career points at CS Fullerton (2/20). The junior currently sits at 1015 points. He had a season-high 27 points at UC Riverside (Feb.13). Welp is also six rebounds (494) away from 500 in his career
> Welp has scored in double-digits in 11-out-of-12 Big West games. Welp is first on the team averaging 14.0 ppg overall and 15.75 in BWC games. He also notched a career-high 19 rebounds at LMU and averages 7.75 rebounds per game
> Freshman Dawson Baker has finished in double-digit scoring 10-out-of-18 games he has played in. He is second on the team averaging 10.7 ppg and set a career-high 23 points at CSU Fullerton (Feb. 19)
> UCI has outrebounded 14-of-20 opponents and has a +8.8 rebound margin through 20 games. The 'Eaters rank 10^th in the nation in rebound margin and 10^th in rebounds per game (40.05)
> Head coach Russell Turner ranks sixth all-time on the Big West coaching wins list with 221. He is one win 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).
> 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 … Head Coach Russell Turner would tie for 5^th all-time in Big West wins … Fourth-straight against UCSD … Improve to 9-1 at the Bren in 2021

BLOCKED BY BRAD
> Senior Brad Greene leads the 'Eaters and the Big West in blocked shots per game, 1.70, which also ranks 56^th nationally
> Greene swatted a career-high nine blocks at CS Fullerton (Feb. 20) which tied the third most in a single-game in Big West history. He tied former Anteater Mamadou Ndiaye
> He has  34 total blocks this season which ranks 54^th nationally

PROTECTING THE BOARDS
> Collin Welp and Brad Greene both rank in the top five in rebounding in the conference. Greene leads the Big West with 7.65 rebounds per game while Welp is third at 7.35 rpg

UCI EARNS SPLIT AT FULLERTON
> UCI split its road series at CSUF, winning the first game 89-78 before falling in the second game, 67-64
> Dawson Baker had a career high 23 points in Friday's win while Collin Welp finished with a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds)
> Welp followed Friday's performance with another double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds). Greene also finished with a double-double on Saturday (10 points, 13 rebounds) and added a career-high nine blocks
> In the first game, UCI led from the start, going up by as much as 20 points in the second half
> In the second game, UCI led by 11 with under 16 minutes to play before the Titans came back to earn the narrow victory

ABOUT THE TRITONS
> UCSD is 5-8 on the season, its games against Big West opponents do not count towards the conference standings or records
> The Tritons split a series with UC Riverside last weekend, winning the second game in overtime, 83-82 OT
> Three UCSD players average double-digit scoring including Toni Rocak (12.9 ppg), Gabe Hadley (12.0 ppg) and Bryce Pope (10.0 ppg)
> UCSD ranks first in the BWC in three-pointers made per game (10.9) and last in rebounds per game (29.5)
> Eric Olen is in his eighth season at the helm

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 plays at Long Beach State for the final regular season series of the season March 5-6. The games are set to tip at 4 p.m.