IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine rolled past Hawaii, 77-52 at the Bren Center Saturday afternoon.

UCI held Hawaii, who entered averaging 71.1 points per game, to a season-low 52 points. UCI's defense was stellar once again with UH shooting just 32.7 percent from the floor (16-49) and 3-20 from three (15%).

Offensively, the Anteaters shot 45.6% (25-57) from the field and were almost perfect from the line, 23-24 (95.8%).

Senior Collin Welp recorded his fourth double-double of the season, posting a team-best 18 points and 13 rebounds, which tied his season-high on the boards. He also added two assists and two steals.

The Anteaters won their seventh straight and improve to 13-7 overall and 7-3 in the Big West. Hawaii is 13-9 on the year and 7-4 in the Big West.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Guard Dawson Baker had 12 points, nine coming in the first half
>Guard Isaiah Lee hit one of two UCI three-pointers, ending with nine points
>Guard Justin Hohn totaled eight points and guard DJ Davis had seven points
>Mate Colina was the lone Hawaii player in double-figure points with 12
>UCI scored 13 points off of 13 Hawaii turnovers
>The Anteaters out-rebounded UH, 39-29

FIRST HALF
>Collin Welp had two free throws and a fall-away jumper to lift UCI to an early 4-1 lead at 18:09
>Dawson Baker would drain a three-pointer and then have a driving layup to extend the lead to 9-3 (16:15)
>Two Emmanuel Tshimanga rebounds led to a basket by JC Butler (14:34) that started a 7-0 run which was capped by an Isaiah Lee three-pointer at 12:57 (18-9)
>Hawaii answered with a 7-0 run of their own, five scored by Mate Colina to close to 18-16 (9:54)
>Again the Rainbow Warriors closed within two (20-18) and UCI answered on a Welp turnaround  (7:23), Baker pull-up jumper (6:37) and two Butler free throws (4:13), 26-20
>After a UH jumper (3:42), UCI would out-score the Rainbow Warriors, 6-1 to end the half, four by Bent Leuchten and two free throws by DJ Davis after quickly pushing the ball up the court after a missed shot, 32-23

SECOND HALF
>The Anteaters scored seven in a row, the last, a four-point play by Baker, draining the trey and making the free throw to increase the lead to 41-26 at 16:26
>Hawaii would only manage two free throws in a five minute span until a Noel Coleman floating jump shot at went in at 13:07 (45-31)
>A Welp turnaround was followed by Davis driving the left baseline, making the basket and the ensuing free throw, 50-31 (11:40)
>Hawaii had a basket at 8:51, then UCI exploded on 9-0 spurt, five by Welp and ended with an Austin Johnson dunk to break open a 70-38 lead at 5:33
>Hawaii would score 12 points in the last 4:40, all from the line except a three-pointer
>Hunter Ruck battled down low for a layup in the final play of the game, 77-52

UCI HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER
"Any coach would be pleased with that type of home performance this time of year. We needed that. We haven't played particularly well on a lot of nights or be able to string together consistent, good play. Tonight we did that. We set the tone with our defense. Energy was great. Guys off the bench played physically in to it. I thought emotionally we were at a different level than I've seen us in a lot of games this year."

NOTES
>UCI improves to 8-1 at home
>The Anteaters are 8-3 versus UH at the Bren
>With one block, Austin Johnson has 99 in his career
>UH's 23 points in the first half are the fourth fewest by an opponent this season
>Hawaii hit 11 threes the first time the two teams met

UP NEXT
UCI heads to Cal State Fullerton Thursday (Feb. 24) for a 7:00 p.m game in Titan Gym.