LAS VEGAS, Nevada– UC Irvine men's basketball (6-1) was crowned the Las Vegas Holiday Classic Champions after defeating New Mexico State (2-2), 85-68.

Pierre Crockrell II was named to the All-Tournament team and DJ Davis was named the Most Valuable Player.

Davis notched a new career high 25 points in the win, shooting 8-15 from the field and 5-7 from three-point range.

Dean Keeler joined Davis in a career night with new bests in assists (2), rebounds (10), and blocks (3).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>UC Irvine never trailed in the contest
>Three Anteaters scored double-digits: Davis (25), Dawson Baker (19), and Justin Hohn (16)
>Keeler is the second UCI player to have a double-digit rebounding game this season
>Redshirt junior Hohn shot a perfect 4-4 from behind the arc to go with his 5-7 shooting in the field
>Guard Pierre Crockrell II led the 'Eaters in assists, dishing out five
>Chazz Hutchison earned his first career block
>UC Irvine shot a season high 14 three-pointers (14-24)
>The 'Eaters had their best game at the charity stripe, making 13 on 16 attempts (0.813)
>New Mexico State was led by Anthony Roy with 20 points on 6-11 shooting, 6-9 from the three-point range
 
FIRST HALF
>DJ Davis (19:01) and Dawson Baker (18:25, 16:51) would start us off on a 7-2 run into the under-16 media timeout
>Davis would make two consecutive three-pointers (14:59, 14:38) as the book ends of a New Mexico State lay-up, 13-4
>The Aggies would add another basket before Dean Keeler would make two straight shots in the paint, 17-7 (18:22)
>JC Butler would follow a pair of made free throws by New Mexico State with a three-ball (12:32), 20-9
>Justin Hohn would score five consecutive points for the Anteaters off a pair of free throws and a three-point jumper, 25-13 (9:55)
>Hohn would then make two straight from beyond the arc at 8:54 (second chance) and 7:29 (fast break) to put the Anteaters up by 18, 32-14
>Baker would start the next scoring run on his two made free throws (6:54) and end with a Davis fast break jump shot from three-point range (3:46), 40-22
>New Mexico State would have the last bucket at the end of the half, 48-30 (0:34) 
 
SECOND HALF
>The Aggies would go on a 9-2 run to start the second stanza, 50-39 (17:44)
>Baker would shoot a jump shot in the paint (17:22) coming out of the break and Davis would drain another three (15:02) before New Mexico State would answer with a three-point bucket of their own, 55-44
>New Mexico State would keep it within 10-points until the under 12 media break before the Anteaters would push their edge back to 15 with a Hohn pull-up jumper (10:33), Baker step back jump shot (10:04), and Davis's fifth shot from distance (9:35), 66-51
>Crockrell II would then drain three consecutive floating jump shots after a pause in the action, 77-59 (5:01)
>Emilis Butkus would have the last UCI basket of the game at 0:06 to seal the 17 point victory, 85-68
 
NOTES 
>For three consecutive games, all 15 Anteaters saw action
>This is the third straight contest where at least three UCI players scored in double figures
>Justin Hohn has not missed a three-point attempt over the last two contests (2-2, 4-4)
>UC Irvine jumps to an 88 ranking in KenPom after two neutral site victories
>UCI has had two straight 80-point victories
>The Anteaters have won by double-digits in their last three contests
 
UP NEXT
UC Irvine travels to No. 17 San Diego State on Tuesday November 29^th for a 7 p.m. tip-off.