UC Irvine (9-5, 5-1) vs. CSU Bakersfield (11-6, 7-3)
Friday, Feb. 5 | 4 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
AM 830 & KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –ESPN3

UC Irvine (9-5, 5-1) vs. CSU Bakersfield (11-6, 7-3)
Saturday, Feb. 6 | 7 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.  
KUCI Radio | Live Stats | Watch –ESPNU

Game Notes
 
UC Irvine gears up for two home games against the Big West's newest member CSU Bakersfield. UCI will play CSU Bakersfield Friday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. on ESPN3. Saturday's game with the Roadrunners will tip at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

ESPNU ADDED TO UCI AT UC RIVERSIDE
> ESPN and the Big West Conference announced UCI's road game at UC Riverside on Saturday, Feb. 13 will be televised on ESPNU
> This marks the second nationally televised game UCI will play in during the 2020-21 season

OPENING TIPS
> The Anteaters remain on top of the Big West Standings with a 5-1 conference record. UCI won six games in a row before suffering its first conference loss, a 62-61, overtime decision at Hawaii. The loss snapped a winning streak that dated back to mid-December. The 'Eaters are 9-5 overall on the season
> Since 2012-13, UCI is 94-21 overall and 58-11 against Big West opponents at home. The 'Eaters are currently 7-0 at the Bren this season
> Since 2012-13, UCI is 109-7 when holding opponents to 60 points or less, including 7-1 this season
> UCI is first in the BWC in scoring defense (55.2 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.354) while CSU Bakersfield tops the conference in rebound margin (+10.3). The 'Eaters are second in rebound margin (+9.9)
> Freshman Dawson Baker has had a strong start for UCI, finishing in double-digit scoring eight-out-of-12 games he has played in. He is averaging 11.1 ppg and set a career-high 21 points against La Sierra. He also led the 'Eaters in scoring against USC (17 points). He tops all Big West freshmen in scoring
CAREER RECORD WATCH
> Brad Greene became the 24^th Anteater in history to reach 500 career rebounds after finishing with eight at SDSU. He now sits at 598 career boards which puts him at 15th all-time. Greene has 700 career points and this season he is averaging 11.1 points per game. He had a career-high 20 points in UCI's season-opener against Pepperdine
> Collin Welp is approaching 1,000 career points. The junior currently sits at 913 points. He had a season-high 20 points at Hawaii (Jan. 30)
> UCI's returning leading scorer Collin Welp scored in double-digits in all of the 'Eaters first six Big West games. Welp is first on the team averaging 12.7 ppg overall and 14.5 in BWC games. He also notched a career-high 19 rebounds at LMU and averages 6.6 rebounds per game
> UCI has out-rebounded 10-of-14 opponents and has a +9.9 rebound margin through 14 games. The 'Eaters rank 8^th in the nation in rebound margin
> Head coach Russell Turner ranks sixth all-time on the Big West coaching wins list with 218. He just 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

With a win Friday … UCI will remain on top of the Big West Standings, 6-1 … Win two straight against CSUB … Stay undefeated and win eight-straight at home

 'EATERS SPLIT WITH HAWAII
> UCI battled at Hawaii last weekend and ended with a split. The 'Eaters won the first game, 53-51, before dropping a one-point decision in overtime, 62-61
> Brad Greene had double-doubles in both games, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds in the first game and 16 points and 11 rebounds in game two. He also had five blocks on Friday
> Collin Welp finished with a season-high 20 points during Saturday's game
> UCI excelled on defense in both games holding the 'Bows to just 36.4 percent shooting overall during game one and 37.7 percent from the field in game two
> The 'Eaters out-rebounded UH 39-32 in game one and held a 42-22 advantage in paint points

ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS
> CSUB is in its first season with the Big West. The Roadrunners are 11-6 overall on the season and sit third in the conference with a 7-3 record. The 'Runners are coming off a series split with CS Fullerton
> UCI's former head coach, Pat Douglass (1997-2010) also coached for the Roadrunners
> Taze Morre leads CSUB with 11.9 ppg while De'Monte Buckingham has a team best 4.9 rpg average
> Head coach Rod Barnes is in his 10^th season at CSUB with a 159-147 record and 435-286 overall career record

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 and helped UCI win its fourth-straight game

UP NEXT
> UCI travels to UC Riverside for a two-game series Feb. 12-13. Friday's game will tip at 4 p.m. while Saturday will be nationally televised on ESPNU at 9 p.m. PT.