UC Irvine at South Dakota
Saturday, Dec. 10 | 11:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. CT)
Sanford Coyote Sports Center | Vermillion, S.D.
 AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (Midco+) | Tickets | Notes

UC Irvine took a week off for finals and is back on the road with a trip to the Midwest to face off against South Dakota with tip at 1 p.m. CT (11:00 a.m. PT).

LONG TIME NO SEE
UC Irvine and South Dakota will meet for the first time in a little over 48 years on Saturday. The two teams first met in the 1974-75 season where the Anteaters hosted the Coyotes for UCI's home opener.
 
FIRST NET RANKINGS OF THE SEASON RELEASED
The first NET ranking of the season was released on Monday Dec. 5 and UCI landed at 65. The 'Eaters are the highest ranked and only Big West team within the top-100 with UC Davis locking in the second position at 126.
 
HOME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED
Prior to Saturday's contest against Fresno State, UC Irvine had won eight straight on their home court tracking back to Jan. 27, 2022. The Bulldogs picked up the 80-66 win against the Anteaters to snap the streak and to pick up their fourth consecutive win over UCI.
 
600 POINTS
Dawson Baker hit the 600 career point mark during his time on the court against Fresno State. DJ Davis is just 18 points away from hitting the same milestone.
 
IMPROVEMENT AT THE FREE THROW LINE
In the last three contests, the Anteaters have been able to shoot over 0.800 at the charity stripe, posting a higher mark each contest (0.813 vs. New Mexico St., 0.857 at San Diego St., and 0.889 vs. Fresno St.).
 
DOUBLE DIGIT SCORING STAR
After his performance against Fresno State, Dawson Baker tied his season high of four consecutive games scoring in double figures. Baker has recorded eight double digit scoring games this season and has posted 30 in his career thus far.
 
LONE COMPANY BEHIND THE ARC
DJ Davis is the lone Anteater to score a three-pointer in every game this season extending his streak to 12 consecutive contests.
 
LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: scoring (5th--Davis), rebounding (10th-Leuchten), field goal percentage (3rd-Baker and 5th-Davis), three-point field goal percentage (1st–Davis), three-point field goals per game (1st—Davis), assists (1st– Crockrell II), assist-TO ratio (4th–Crockrell II), and blocks (8th—Keeler).
 
NATIONAL STATISTICS 12.08.22
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in the following categories: scoring margin (24) rebounds per game (16), rebound margin (5), field-goal percentage defense (38), three-point field goal percentage (7), and three-point field goal percentage defense (17).

ABOUT THE COYOTES 
> South Dakota has started the season 5-5, coming off of a loss at Air Force on Tuesday evening
> The Coyotes recently defeated BYU at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City 69-68 after the Cougars buzzer beater shot fell short of the basket
> South Dakota finished fifth in the Summit League with an overall record of 19-12
> A.J. Plitzuweit is South Dakota's leading scorer, averaging 12.0 points in eight games played
> Plitzuweit earned the Summit League Peak Performer of the Week honor on Nov. 14 leading the Coyotes to a 2-1 start with a 33-point effort against  Lipscomb in South Dakota's home opener
> Damani Hayes leads the team in rebounds with an average of 6.9 over the Coyotes 10 games
> South Dakota was picked to finish third in the Summit League preseason media poll and received on first place vote
> Plitzuweit, Mason Archambault, and Kruz Perrott-Hunt were all named to the Summit League Preseason Second Team