IRVINE, Calif. -- The Anteaters will three games in four days at the Ball Dawgs Classic (Nov. 21-22, 24) and will take on Pepperdine, Toledo, and Rice.

UC Irvine vs. Rice
Friday, Nov. 24 | 1:15 p.m. PT
Dollar Loan Center | Henderson, Nev.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (FloHoops) | Tickets | Notes

ABOUT RICE
> Rice holds a 1-4  record entering the contest, picking up their lone win against St. Thomas (TX)
> The Owls are on a four game skid and have lost both their games in the Ball Dawgs Classic by double digits
> Rice went 19-16 in 2022-23 and 8-12 in C-USA action
>This is Rice's first year in the American Athletic Conference
> The Owls defeated UCI's upcoming non-conference opponent, Duquesne, in the first round of the CBI before they narrowly fell to Southern Utah in the quarterfinals
> Travis Evee leads the scoring effort for Rice with 72 total points and 14.4 points per game
> Mason Mekhi is averaging 11.8 points per game, second best mark on the team
> Max Fielder leads the team off the glass with 8.6 rebounds per game while averaging 10.6 points per game
> Fielder, Mason, and Evee are the top three distributors on the team with 25, 13, and 11 assists respectively
> Keanu Dawes is the fourth and final Owl to have started and played in all five contests for Rice
> Anthony Sheldon poses an offensive threat with his 0.536 shooting clip (15-28) from the floor

WWWWWINNING WAYS
Recording their fifth straight win on Nov. 22 with their 77-71 take down of Toledo, UC Irvine now holds the nation's eighth longest active win streak.

NICE TO MEET YOU
UCI has not met Rice in program history. The Owls are one of two teams on UCI's schedule that the Anteaters have not faced before.

ANTEATERS PREVAILED AGAINST TOLEDO
The UC Irvine men's basketball team went down to the wire with Toledo and were able to prevail, 77-71, late Wednesday evening. Forward Devin Tillis strung together an incredible night with 24 points, a new career high, on perfect 8-8 shooting from the floor and 4-4 from three-point range. Freshman Derin Saran poured in 15 points for his fourth double figure scoring effort of the season in the victory. Redshirt senior Justin Hohn rounded out the double figure scoring with his 11 points while knocking down all four of his shots from the line

ALL ABOUT THE ROTATION
The 'Eaters, who are a strong scoring team receive a lot of momentum from the second and third rotations. UCI is ranked 27th nationally in bench points per game (33.00).

HIGHLY EFFICIENT SHOOTING
UCI has shot over a 0.500 clip in four contests this season (New Mexico State—0.526, Occidental—0.615, Pepperdine---0.517, and Toledo---0.500). The Anteaters rank 54th nationally in effective field goal percentage.

PUT IT IN THE PAINT
UCI has outscored their opponents by 98 points when scoring in the paint (UCI 252, Opp. 148). The Anteaters average 42.0 points in the paint per game and have scored 40 or more points in two games so far (Occidental-- 68 and Pepperdine--48).

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
UC Irvine finds themselves among the best in another specialty statistical category, landing 43rd in the nation in fast break points with 15.83 points per game. 

KENPOM LEADERS
Out of 2305 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 6th in assist rate (43.7) and Devin Tillis is 29th in two-point percentage (0.789).  Out of 363 teams, UC Irvine ranks 13th in bench minutes (42.9), 34th in steal percentage offense (6.5), 37th in adjusted defensive efficiency (95.2), 42nd in two-point percentage defense (43.8), and 46th in effective field goal percentage defense (44.1).

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: rebounds per game (8th, 6.7--Tillis), free throw percentage (7th, 0.818--Tillis), assists per game (2nd, 5.3--Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (4th, 2.7-- Crockrell II), blocks per game (10th, 1.0-- Leuchten), and steals per game (4th, 2.0-- Henry).

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 11.22.22
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in the following categories: assists per game (21st, 18.8), field goal percentage (32nd, 0.500),and assist-turnover ratio (37th, 1.57).
 

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UC Irvine vs. Toledo
Wednesday, Nov. 22 | 8:45 p.m. PT
Dollar Loan Center | Henderson, Nev.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (FloHoops) | Tickets | Notes

ABOUT TOLEDO
> Toledo holds a 3-1 record entering the contest, picking up wins against Detroit Mercy, Louisiana, and Wright State
> The Rockets faced their first setback of the year on Tuesday night (Nov. 21), 92-84
> Toledo went 27-8 overall in 2022-23 and 16-2 in the MAC
> The Rockets advanced to the first round of the NIT where they faced off against Michigan (L, 90-80)
> Ra'Heim Moss leads the scoring effort for Toledo with 69 total points and 17.3 points per game and is also the team leader off the glass with 5.3 rebounds per game
> Moss is shooting at a crisp 0.561 clip (23-41) from the floor
> Dante Maddox Jr. is not far behind on the scoring with 64 points (16.0 per game)
> Maddox Jr. and Sonny Wilson have both dished out a team best 12 assists in four games played
> Javan Simmons rounds out the double figure scoring average with 11.8 points per game (47 total)
> Tyler Cochran has stolen the ball 12 times, a team high
> Toledo shoots at an efficient 0.519 clip (124-239) from the floor
> 11 out of the 12 players on the Rockets roster have seen time on the floor
> Toledo was picked to finish fourth in the MAC
> Maddox Jr. was named to the All-MAC Preseason First Team

SIMILAR, BUT DIFFERENT
UC Irvine and Toledo are two very similar programs, both playing mid-major basketball with success in their respective conferences while both coaches are in their 14th years at their school. Additionally, both the Anteaters and the Rockets were in the postseason in 2022-23, playing in the first round of the NIT.

TOSS UP WITH TOLEDO IN THE GULF COAST CLASSIC (2018)
UC Irvine fell to Toledo, 67-60, in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase (Nov. 21, 2018) at Hertz Arena. The Anteaters suffered their first loss of the season, moving to 6-1 overall. John Edgar Jr. was named to the All-Tournament team after finishing with 36 points (12.0 ppg) and 15 rebounds (3.0 rpg).

SARAN SHINES IN VICTORY OVER PEPPERDINE
In a classic west coast battle, freshman guard Derin Saran powered the Anteater offense in the 76-60 victory over Pepperdine in the first game of the Ball Dawgs Classic at The Dollar Loan Center. Saran poured in a career-best 16 points on 7-9 (.778) shooting from the floor with eight grabs off the glass. The guard posted his third double figure scoring effort of the season in the victory. Guard Andre Henry contributed 10 points with his 4-6 shooting while Langston Redfield set his career-best in points with eight. Forward Devin Tillis had an eye grabbing stat line of seven points, six rebounds, and five assists.

ALL ABOUT THE ROTATION
The 'Eaters, who are a strong scoring team receive a lot of momentum from the second and third rotations. UCI is ranked 26th nationally in bench points per game (34.00).

HIGHLY EFFICIENT SHOOTING
UCI has shot over a 0.500 clip in three contests this season (New Mexico State—0.526, Occidental—0.615, and Pepperdine---0.517). The Anteaters rank 61st nationally in effective field goal percentage.

PUT IT IN THE PAINT
UCI has outscored their opponents by 98 points when scoring in the paint (UCI 214, Opp. 116). The Anteaters average 42.8 points in the paint per game and have scored 40 or more points in two games so far (Occidental-- 68 and Pepperdine--48).

KENPOM LEADERS
Out of 2305 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 5th in assist rate (45.5) and Devin Tillis is 29th in defensive rebound percentage (29.6).  Out of 363 teams, UC Irvine ranks 14th in bench minutes (43.0) and 39th in adjusted defensive efficiency (94.8).

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: rebounds per game (6th, 7.2--Tillis), free throw percentage (6th, 0.824--Tillis), assists per game (3rd, 5.6--Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (3rd, 3.8-- Tillis and 4th, 2.8-- Crockrell II), blocks per game (10th, 1.0-- Leuchten), and steals per game (6th, 1.8-- Henry).

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 11.21.22
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in the following categories: assists per game (15th, 19.6), assist-turnover ratio (26th, 1.69),  field goal percentage (36th, 0.500), and scoring margin (38th, 19.0).
 

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UC Irvine vs. Pepperdine
Tuesday, Nov. 21 | 5:45 p.m. PT
Dollar Loan Center | Henderson, Nev.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (FloHoops) | Tickets | Notes

ABOUT PEPPERDINE
> Pepperdine holds a 3-2 record entering the contest, picking up wins against Concordia Irvine, Lafayette, and LIU
> Pepperdine will also face Big West opponents in Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 6 and UC San Diego on Dec. 9.
> The Waves went 9-22 overall last season and 2-14 in the WCC
> Pepperdine earned their conference victories over Portland State in 3OT (94-93) and BYU (92-80) in Malibu
> Houston Mallette leads the scoring effort for the Waves with 104 total points and 20.8 points per game
> Michael Ajayi is average a double-double for Pepperdine behind 17.2 points per game and 11.2 grabs off the glass
> Ajayi has three double-doubles in five outings
> Malik Moore rounds out the double figure scoring with 11.0 points per game (55 total)
> Ethan Anderson has dished out a team best 18 assists
> Jalen Pitre is also a leader off the glass with 5.6 rebounds per game
> Mallette, Ajayi, Moore, and Anderson are the only four Waves to start in all five games played so far on the season
> Pepperdine was picked to finish seventh in the WCC
> Mallette and Javon Porter were named to the WCC Preseason team

HISTORY IN LAS VEGAS MTE'S
UC Irvine has participated in four other MTE's in Las Vegas prior to the 2023-24 season and all four were under the tenure of Head Coach Russell Turner. The Anteaters are 6-4 all time in MTE's held in the Sin City and surrounding areas. In last year's MTE trip, UCI won the Las Vegas Holiday Classic Invite behind their wins against Nicholls (83-56) and New Mexico State (85-68).

SCOPING OUT THE AREA
The Anteaters will compete in the Ball Dawgs Classic from Nov. 21-24, playing three games in four days. The MTE will be held at the Dollar Loan Center which is the same site UCI hopes to return to in March for the 2024 Big West Men's Basketball Championship.

ROAD WOES IN MALIBU
In the 2022 meeting, UC Irvine dropped 64-55 to Pepperdine in a mid-November contest in Malibu. Bent Leuchten led all players off the glass, setting a new career high 14 rebounds, 10 were defensive. Leuchten added nine points shooting 2-7 from the field with one from behind the arc. Devin Tillis tallied seven points in the contest. UCI did not all Pepperdine to make any field goals in eight minutes, but the Waves scored their final 13 points off of free throws.

ANTEATERS ROUT OCCIDENTAL BEHIND CAREER NIGHTS
Guard Andre Henry poured in a career-best 24 points to lead all players. The junior went 10-14 from the field, including 3-4 from long range. Henry also added a career-high six assists, career-best five steals and five rebounds. Forward Hayden Welling was a perfect 9-9 from the field for a career-high 18 points, while forward Ofure Ujadughele went 8-11 from the floor, including a three-pointer for a career-best 17 points. The redshirt senior led the team with eight rebounds, also a career high. Langston Redfield had a career-best seven points and seven rebounds while Derin Saran tied his best scoring effort of his career with 10 points on 5-8 shooting.

KEEPING IT 100!
In Friday night's win over Occidental, four different Anteaters shot perfect whether it was from the field (1) or at the line (2). Pierre Crockrell II (2-2), Andre Henry (1-1), and Dean Keeler (3-3) made all of their shots from the line. Hyaden Welling (9-9) did not miss any from range.

ALL ABOUT THE ROTATION
The 'Eaters, who are a strong scoring team receive a lot of momentum from the second and third rotations. UCI is ranked 52nd nationally in bench points per game (32.00).

HIGHLY EFFICIENT SHOOTING
UCI has shot over a 0.500 clip in two contests this season (New Mexico State—0.526, and Occidental—0.615 an). The Anteaters rank 70th nationally in effective field goal percentage.

PUT IT IN THE PAINT
UCI has outscored their opponents by 72 points when scoring in the paint (UCI 166, Opp. 94). The Anteaters average 41.5 points in the paint per game and have scored 40 or more points in one game so far (Occidental-- 68).

DISHIN' DIMES
Pierre Crockrell II has led the Anteaters in the last four contests in assists with 25. The fifth year guard is averaging 6.2 assists per game and earned his 500th career dime in the win over New Mexico State on Nov. 11. Crockrell II nationally ranks 23th in both assists per game and total assists while leading the Big West in both categories. The Anteaters are 3-1 when Crockrell II dishes out five or more dimes in a game and were 15-3 in 2022-23 when he hit the same mark.

THIS JUST-IN!
Justin Hohn is a UC Irvine squad leader with 51 total points and 12.8 points per game after his first career 20-point game at No. 16/20 USC with his 25 point outing. The redshirt senior has 20 double figure scoring games in his career, the most of any player on the 2023-24 Anteater squad. 

SEEING DOUBLE
Devin Tillis notched the Anteaters first double-double of the season on Saturday night with an 18 point and 10 rebound showing. In the effort, the redshirt junior set a career best in points scored. Tillis recorded three double-double efforts last season and earned the program's first since Mar. 15, 2023 which was the one he set in the NIT First Round match-up with Oregon. The forward has recorded double-figure scoring in two games and double figure rebounding in two games played this season to lead UCI with 30 rebounds, 7.5 per game. 

MR. POSTMAN
Bent Leuchten dominates at the post whether it is scoring baskets or grabbing the all off the glass. The center is one of the teams leaders off the glass, averaging 4.0 rebounds a game in four contests played. Leuchten has posted two double-figure scoring games since this year, the latest against No. 16/20 USC where he put up 19 points in 28 minutes of action.

KENPOM LEADERS
Out of 2304 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 1st in assist rate (52.4) and Devin Tillis is 26th in defensive rebound percentage (30.1).  Out of 363 teams, UC Irvine ranks 39th in non-steal turnover defense percentage (11.0), 42nd in adjusted defensive efficiency (95.2), and 51st in two-point percentage defense (43.0)

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: rebounds per game (6th, 7.5--Tillis), field goal percentage (8th, 0.513 -- Hohn), free throw percentage (3rd, 0.846 -- Tillis), assists per game (2nd, 6.3 -- Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (4th, 3.1 -- Crockrell II, and steals per game (2nd, 2.3 -- Henry)

NATIONAL STATISTICS 11.19.22
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in the following categories: assists per game (15th, 19.8), assist-turnover ratio (30th, 1.8), scoring margin (44, 19.8), and field goal percentage (50, 0.496).