IRVINE, Calif. – Collin Welp scored the first and last basket of his final home game at the Bren Events Center helping UC Irvine to a 77-72 victory over Long Beach State Saturday.

Appropriately on his senior night, Welp hit a clutch jumper with 32 seconds remaining that was followed by a pair of free throws by Dawson Baker with 14.3 on the clock to secure the victory.

Long Beach State rallied on a 17-2 run in the final 4:45 to close within 73-72 with 47 seconds left before UCI had the final four points. After shooting just 27.6 percent in the first half (8-29), the Beach went 20-33 (60.6%) in the second.

Baker led the Anteaters with 18 points, shooting 50% (5-10) from the floor and going 6-6 from the line. He also had four rebounds and two assists.

Welp enjoyed his final time on the Bren Center court, shooting 5-10 from the floor for 10 points and bringing down a team-best seven rebounds. He also had four assists and a steal. Welp moved into eighth all-time in UCI rebounding, passing Wayne Englestad with 702.

UCI, winners of eight of their last nine, improve to 14-8 overall and 8-4 in the Big West. Long Beach State goes to 16-11 overall and 10-3 in the Big West.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Guard Justin Hohn had another impressive performance, scoring 13 first half points, hitting three three-pointers and dishing a career-high seven assists
>Forward Austin Johnson added seven points, four rebounds and two blocks
>Guard Isaiah Lee had nine points, hitting 3-5 from three-point range
>The Anteaters continue to be impressive from the line, going 16-17 (94.1%)
>UCI had another solid performance from the floor, going 27-52 on the night (51.9%)
>UCI had a season-high 22 turnovers. LBSU had 14 fast break points and scored 28 off UCI turnovers
>Joel Murray led Long Beach State with a game-high 20 points. Colin Slater had 16 points and Aboubacar Traore recorded 14 points, all in the second half

FIRST HALF
>Collin Welp scored the first basket of the night at 19:39
>LBSU would miss their first five shots and watched UCI get a basket by Austin Johnson and a three-pointer from the right side by Justin Hohn, 7-0 at 17:17
>The Beach would break thru with a basket by Colin Slater at 16:36
>Johnson would grab an offensive rebound, power back-up, score and was fouled and made a free throw to put UCI up 12-4 at 15:05
>LBSU would score the next four until Isaiah lee would knock down a three at 10:41, 15-9
>Welp found Hohn streaking to the hoop for a layup then added a jumper himself at 8:14, 21-12
>The Anteaters had three consecutive threes, two by Hohn and one by Ofure Ujadughele to extend the margin to 30-14 at 5:10
>Dean Keeler added two free throws then Lee drained a three from the right corner to end the 14-0 run, at 4:08 (35-14)
>Each team would score nine points then Hohn would be fouled with 0.5 on the clock and hit both free throws to end the half, 46-23
>UCI's 46 first half points were second most scored in the first 20 minutes this season and the Beach's 23 are fourth fewest by an opponent

SECOND HALF
>Dawson Baker would make a layup to start the half before four straight baskets by the Beach, 48-31 (17:05)
>Emanuel Tshimanga put a move on a defender and scored down low to stop the LBSU streak (16:11) then DJ Davis had a pull up jumper and Lee drained a three, 55-31 (14:56)
>In a half of early runs, Long Beach would score seven unanswered after applying pressure until the Anteaters were able to break it an find Dean Keeler all alone under the hoop, 57-38 (12:03)
>Neither team could string more than four points in a row until Long Beach would score 13 straight to close to 71-68 with 1:54 remaining
>Baker drove in for a layup to stop the run at 1:38, but the Beach would score the next four to edge within one (73-72) with 47.6 left
>Welp hit a free throw line jumper with 32 ticks remaining then Baker would make two free throws for the final points of the contest
>The final LBSU attempt bounced off and was secured by Johnson

SENIOR COLLIN WELP SAID
"I just want to thank the UCI community for tonight and the last five years. The energy in the building tonight was unbelievable and the love these fans have given me during my career is second to none. I'm glad we were able to come together and pull out the win on this special night for my family and I."

NOTES
>With two blocks, Austin Johnson went over 100 for his career (101)
>UCI is 9-1 at home
>The men's basketball victory was the third of the day against Long Beach State. Women's water polo and women's basketball also beat the Beach earlier in the day

UP NEXT
>UCI will hit the road for the final two regular season games, heading to Cal Poly next Thursday (Mar. 3) and CSUB next Saturday (Mar.5).