LAS VEGAS, Nevada – A riveting 54-point second half thrusted UC Irvine (5-1) past Nicholls State (1-4) in the opening game of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.

DJ Davis led UCI with a game high 18 points. The guard went 7-12 from the floor and 4-7 from behind the arc.
 
UCI held the Colonels to only one three-pointer in the contest, allowing Nicholls State to only shoot 5.0% from range (1-20).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Four Anteaters scored double-digits: Davis (18), Dawson Baker (13), Justin Hohn (12), and Andre Henry (11)
>This was Henry's second consecutive double-figure game
>Center Bent Leuchten grabbed 12 rebounds for his second double-figure rebounding game of the season
>Leuchten reached his career high four free throws made on his four attempts from the stripe
>Guard Pierre Crockrell II had a season-best nine assists, just one shy of his career high (10)
>The senior transfer also posted a season high two assists
>Redshirt junior Hohn shot a perfect 2-2 from distance while notching season-bests in points (12), rebounds (4), and assists (4)
>Forward Akiva McBirney-Griffin matched his career high three rebounds
>Senior Dean Keeler notched a career-best two assists
>The 'Eaters held the Colonels to 0-11 shooting from behind the arc in the second period
>Nicholls State was led by Micah Thomas with 11 points on 2-7 shooting, 7-8 from the line
 
HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER SAID
"It was great for us today. In the first half we played too controlled with too many set play calls which fell into their hands. There is no question that he (DJ Davis) can change the pace for us from three. I thought he had a lot of good opportunities in the first half. He is more than just a three-point shooter, he is a good passer and can score mid-range. I thought Pierre (Crockrell II) was terrific in setting the tempo and creating edges with his tempo."
 
FIRST HALF
>Dawson Baker would score first for the Anteaters on a hook shot in the paint at 18:43 to even the score, 2-2
>Baker would knock one down at the line (17:17) and Bent Leuchten would score on the layup (16:53) the following possession, 5-2
>Both teams would exchange baskets before three consecutive points from Dean Keeler off a free throw and lay-in (15:19, 14:44) would push the 'Eaters advantage, 10-6
>Nicholls State would chip away to bring it back within two at 13:24, 12-10
>Justin Hohn would make a free throw at 13:16 and Keeler would make another lay-up at 12:29 to put UCI up five, 15-10
>An Anteater run over a minute of play would pull UCI away from the Colonels, 20-12 (9:04)
>Nicholls State would tie the contest at 23 apiece at 4:08
>Each team would answer the calls of their opponent, but would end up knotted at the half, 29-29 
 
SECOND HALF
>UC Irvine would come out of the break strong to lead by nine with points from Baker (18:31, 17:19), Leuchten (18:12), DJ Davis (17:49, 16:19), and Pierre Crockrell II (16:35) at the first media timeout, 43-34 (16:17)
>Nicholls State would score off a driving lay-up at 16:03 before the under 16 media break, 43-36
>A 19-2 Anteater run was started with a Davis floating jumper and capped by a Davis' fourth three-pointer of the night, 62-38
>The Colonels would score straight off of free throws before Leuchten would make two from the stripe at 8:33, 64-44
>Crockrell II would hit a spinning jump shot from mid-range to keep the 22-point lead, 66-44 (7:42)
>Andre Henry would drain six straight points for UCI with four of them coming from the free throw line, 74-48
>Akiva McBirney-Griffin's made free throw at 2:29 would give the 'Eaters their biggest lead of the game, 80-50
>Hayden Welling would close out the game with 41 seconds remaining on a two-handed slammer, 83-56
 
NOTES 
>For two consecutive games, all 15 Anteaters saw action
>This was the second time this season where UCI has held their opponent to zero made three-pointers in a half (held Oregon 0-7 in the first half on Nov. 11)
>Two 'Eaters were perfect at the charity stripe, Leuchten (4-4) and Henry (5-5)
 
UP NEXT
UCI will play the winner of New Mexico State and San Diego in the championship game of the Las Vegas Holiday Invite at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday November 26^th.