IRVINE, Calif. -- UC Irvine starts their 2023-24 campaign early, hosting DII Cal State San Marcos in an exhibition game at the Bren Events Center on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.
 
FOLLOW THE ANTEATERS
Cal State San Marcos at UC Irvine
Exhibition Game
Friday, Nov. 3 | 7:00 p.m.
Bren Events Center (5,000) | Irvine, Calif.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
The UC Irvine Anteaters are coming off a championship campaign in the 2022-23 season where they earned the Big West regular season crown behind their 15-5 league record. UCI already has a championship under their belt prior to the start of the 2023-24 campaign as they went an undefeated 8-0 at the 42^nd annual Jones Cup in Taiwan.
 
WENT INTERNATIONAL
UCI had the opportunity to get some extra practice and games in over the summer by participating in the 42^nd annual Jones Cup held in Taipei City. The 'Eaters were presented the grueling task of competing in eight games over a nine-day span while facing national and professional teams from various countries. In a tournament where they never trailed in the second half, UC Irvine's 8-0 record earned them the first United States medal since 2012 when the University of Pittsburgh Greensburg won the bronze and first American gold since 2006 (Athletes in Action).

Additionally, UCI was the first collegiate United States team to win the gold medal in 30 years when Hawai'i did it in 1993. Pierre Crockrell II was named the tournament's MVP along with All-Tournament team recognition.
 
CONFERENCE DOMINATION
According to CBK Report, UCI has one of the best conference winning percentages (72-21, 0.774) over the last five years. In the last five years in the Big West, UC Irvine has won three regular season titles, made an appearance in the NIT, won the conference tournament to earn the league's automatic qualifier to March Madness, and recorded the programs first NCAA tournament win.
 
DEFEND THE BREN
In the Turner era of Anteater basketball, UC Irvine holds a 142-46 (0.755) record inside the Bren Events Center. In similar fashion to their overall conference domination over the last five years, the 'Eaters have gone 72-14 (0.837) in Big West play on their home court.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY
In a ten-year span, UC Irvine has won eight Big West championships whether it was a regular season or championship title. The Anteaters have won the Big West outright in 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2022-23 seasons while earning Big West championship titles in 2014-15 and 2018-19. UCI has made seven postseason appearances under the helm of Russell Turner, advancing to the NIT First Round last season.
 
ALL ABOUT THE NET
While mentioned every season, this year's non-conference schedule is arguably the most challenging one the program has seen. The Anteaters will face last year's NCAA runner-up, two preseason AP Poll Top-25 ranked teams, and eight other teams that made appearances in the postseason. UCI's opponents are housed in the American Athletic Conference, Atlantic 10, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West, Pac-12, Summit League, and West Coast Conference.
 
"We have outdone ourselves this year," exclaimed head coach Russell Turner. "We are playing a higher quality opponent than we ever have and playing more road games. We think we not only can compete in those and surprise some people."
 
NOT THE ROOKIES, BUT THE VETS
For the first time in three seasons, UCI will graduate more than one player from the program while also returning academic seniors who have up to two years of eligibility left. Graduate student Dylan Thoerner along with fifth years in Pierre Crockrell II and Dean Keeler will complete their athletic eligibility this season.
 
"Dean is to have his best year yet as he has gotten very quick and athletic. I am happy for him to have another opportunity to lay it all out there with special passion. Pierre is a great player for us as he has led two different leagues in assists. He was named the tournament MVP at the Jones Cup and he barely scored. That says a lot about him as a player."
  
DEPTH OF THE BENCH
Another constant to the Anteater program is the impressive depth held on the bench as UCI continues to return players in every position as well as having guys behind them who are also very good.
 
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
On an experienced UC Irvine roster, Coach Turner is looking forward to seeing Justin Hohn, Andre Henry, and Devin Tillis making a difference on the team.
 
Hohn, a redshirt senior, looks to enter back into the starting lineup this season after playing a sixth man role last year. The guard showed his flashes of excellence over the summer with his offensive volatility.
 
"Justin was a starter for us two years ago every game. This year I expect him to move into a starter role to make his name. I was super happy with the way he performed in Taiwan, and I know he is going to be great for this team this year."
 
Henry stepped up on the Anteaters foreign tour and started in every game he played in. The senior's offensive style complimented those around him to help propel UCI to their victories.

"Andre is going to take a huge leap this year. I think all of you know it like I do. He is a two-way player, great teammate, and great representative of UC Irvine."

Tillis will continue to be threat at as the four-man providing a high level of defensive intensity while sneaking by as a scoring threat at the post and along the perimeter. The redshirt junior was named to the Blue Ribbon Yearbook's Big West's Preseason Team.  
 
"There will be different guys on different nights. Every one of them will be difference makers on different nights. That is what's going to be the fun part about following us."
 
NEW ADDITIONS
Similar to last year, UCI add five newcomers to their roster. Dylan Thoerner, Derin Saran, Jurian Dixon, Ben Egbo, and Carter Welling are the new Anteaters on the squad.
 
Thoerner, an Irvine native, returns to his hometown for his final season after competing at Tufts University for four years. The guard is an NABC Division III All-American and two-time All-Conference selection. Thoerner is a scoring weapon and poses a threat from deep.
 
"Dylan made a lot of threes in Taiwan. He shot 43% in his career behind the arc. I am excited for him and his family for his return to Irvine."
 
Saran hails from Istanbul, Turkey and comes to Irvine by way of The Asheville School in North Carolina. The freshman is a three-time conference champion, Western North Carolina Player of the Year, and a 2023 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year nominee.
 
Dixon brings in additional talent to the squad after helping lead his high school team to a No. 5 ranking his senior year while finishing as a top-10 scorer in San Diego high school history.
 
"Jurian was a San Diego Player of the Year a couple of times. He's been a great recruit for us so far and his future is going to be excellent."
 
Another state championship player enters the UC Irvine program through Egbo. The guard was named as the conference Defensive Player of the Year last season while also landing a spot on the All-CUSD First Team.
 
C. Welling steps foot on campus for his freshman year as he returns from his two-year mission trip. At Corner Canyon high school, the center was a member of the 2019 state championship team alongside his brother turned college teammate, Hayden Welling.
 
"Carter has worked really hard because he went two years without playing basketball and that is an incredibly tough transition back into it. I think he has shocked all of us with how well he has done, talent, ability, and teammate he's been."