IRVINE, Calif. -- UC Irvine will open their Big West conference slate at home against UC Riverside (Dec. 28) before closing out 2023 with a road trip up to Cal State Bakersfield (Dec. 30).

UC Irvine at Cal State Bakersfield
Saturday, Dec. 30 | 7:00 p.m. PT 
Icardo Center | Bakersfield, Calif.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+) | Tickets | Notes

ABOUT CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD
> Cal State Bakersfield holds a 5-7 record entering the contest, picking up wins against Southern Utah, St. Katherine, Sacramento State, Whittier, and South Dakota
> The Roadrunners opened Big West action in La Jolla where they faced a 76-64 setback to UC San Diego
> CSUB has been outscored by their opponents 429-385 in the first half over 12 games played
> Cal State Bakersfield went 11-22 in 2022-23 and 6-14 in Big West action
> The Roadrunners advanced to the Big West Championship quarterfinals after defeating CSUN in the play in game. CSUB eventually dropped to the Anteaters,  75-51
> CSUB is currently undefeated inside the Icardo Center this season holding a 4-0 record
> Kaleb Higgins is the only Roadrunner averaging double figures, pouting in 17.1 points per game (205 total)
> Higgins is also the CSUB team leader in assists with 47 dimes (3.9 per game)
> Ugnius Jarusevicius has posted 99 points (8.3 per game) off the bench
> Marvin McGhee III is a sharp shooter from distance going a team best 23-63 (0.365) from three-point range
> Modestas Kancleris is grabbing 5.8 rebounds per game, 70 total in 12 games
> Cameron Wilbon is the only the second player on CSUB to have started and play in all 12 games averaging 22.1 minutes on the court
> Cal State Bakersfield was picked to finish eighth in the Big West Preseason Poll

ROAD WORK AHEAD
UC Irvine is trekking out to Bakersfield for their seventh true road game of the season. The Anteaters hold a 1-5 record on the road and have lost the last four contests away from Irvine. UCI looks to pick up their first road win since Nov. 14 when they defeated then No. 16/20 USC in Los Angeles.

BLOCK PARTY IN THE BREN
In Thursday night's victory over UC Riverside, the Anteaters posted six blocks. Freshman Carter Welling swatted three shots for the second consecutive game. Fifth year forward Dean Keeler denied two attempts at the rim for his sixth multi-block game of the season. UCI is averaging 4.8 blocks a game on their home court where three of those contests the Anteater have posted five or more in a game.

FEATS VS. THE ROADRUNNERS IN 2022-23
UC Irvine accomplished several feats when facing off against Cal State Bakersfield in the 2022-23 campaign. In the Anteaters conference opener in Bakersfield, UCI broke the school record in free throw attempts (49) set on Jan. 27, 1994 and set the new standard at 51. The 79-75 victory earned head coach Russell Turner his 250th career win. In the regular season finale on Mar. 4, the Anteaters held the Roadrunners to 44 points, a season low scored by an opponent, to help clinch the Big West regular season title for UCI. Lastly, in the Big West quarterfinal matchup (Mar. 9), CSUB could not score a three-pointer in the first half marking the third consecutive half that the 'Eaters held the Roadrunners to zero three-pointers. 

UCI HOT FROM LONG RANGE IN QUARTERFINAL WIN (MAR. 9)
Top-seeded UC Irvine knocked down 11 three-pointers to lift the Anteaters to a 75-51 victory over Cal State Bakersfield in a quarterfinal game of the Hercules Tires Big West Championships presented by The Hawaiian Islands at the Dollar Loan Center. UCI shot 11-19 from beyond the arc (0.579), including 7-12 (0.583) in the first half to dominate early. Redshirt senior JC Butler led UC Irvine with 13 points, hitting 5-7 from the floor, including 3-3 from three-point distance.

ANDRE HENRY DELIVERED BIG IN VICTORY OVER UC RIVERSIDE
Senior Andre Henry poured in 23 points in UC Irvine's 73-66 victory over UC Riverside in the Big West opener Thursday at the Bren Events Center. Henry led the way going 7-9 from the floor and 7-8 from the line, while adding two rebounds and an assist in 28 minutes of action. The guard went 2-3 from long distance, with one sealing the victory with eight seconds remaining. Forward Carter Welling had 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Forward Devin Tillis posted his second double-double of the season, recording 10 points and team-best 10 rebounds. Guard Justin Hohn rounded out the double figure scoring with his 13 points where he shot 4-8 from the field.

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 21st nationally in bench points per game (32.00) and have out performed their opponent eight times this season with non-starters.

DISHIN' DIMES
Pierre Crockrell II has led the Anteaters in 12 contests this season in assists with 76. The fifth year guard is averaging 5.8 assists per game and earned his 500th career dime in the win over New Mexico State on Nov. 11. Crockrell II nationally ranks 14th in total assists and 23rd in assists per game while he sits atop the Big West in both categories. The guard recorded his first double-double of the season with season bests in points (12) and assists (11) against South Dakota (Dec. 16). The Anteaters are 6-4 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 177 total points and 13.6 points per game after his first career 20-point game at No. 16/20 USC with his 25 point outing and was followed by his second at Utah State with 21 points. The redshirt senior has 28 double figure scoring games in his career, the most of any player on the 2023-24 Anteater squad. Hohn reached 600 career points in his double digit scoring performance on December 2nd.

SEEING DOUBLE
Devin Tillis notched the Anteaters first double-double of the season on Saturday night (Nov. 11) with an 18 point and 10 rebound showing. In the effort, the redshirt junior set a career best in points scored. In the victory over UC Riverside on Dec. 28, Tillis posted his second double double of the season behind 10 points and 10 rebounds. 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 five games and double figure rebounding in three games played this season to lead UCI with 73 rebounds, 6.1 per game. 

THE ANDRE SPECIAL
Andre Henry has helped the Anteaters get it done on both ends of the court this season. From three-point range, Henry is shooting a team best percentage 15-44 (0.441) and is a top shooter at the free throw line with his 30 makes (30-36, 0.833). The senior has stolen the ball from opponents a team best 17 times and is one of three players with 50+ rebounds on the season.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Freshman Carter Welling took over the starting position of center, making his Anteater debut versus Pepperdine on Nov. 21. Averaging 16.5 minutes a game, the center has grabbed 3.7 rebounds per game, blocked 12 shots, and is putting up 6.8 points a game after back-to-back career high 14-point performances versus the Lobos on Dec. 20 and the Highlanders on Dec. 28.

FRESHMAN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Derin Saran is second on the team in scoring with 10.8 points per game over 13 games played and has one of the best shooting percentages on the Anteater squad (0.541, 59-109). Saran notched his 100th career point at Utah State and went on an eight game double figure scoring streak ranging from Nov. 17-Dec. 16. The young guard also has 46 rebounds, 24 assists, and 10 steals on the year.

MR. POSTMAN
Bent Leuchten dominates at the post whether it is scoring baskets or grabbing the all off the glass. The center returned to action for the Anteaters on Dec. 16 and is one of the teams leaders off the glass, averaging 4.4 rebounds a game in seven contests played. Leucthen 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 2265 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 5th in assist rate (42.8) and Devin Tillis is 36th in defensive rebound percentage (25.9) and 37th in two-point percentage (0.708). Out of 362 teams, UC Irvine ranks 11th in bench minutes (43.7), 35th in adjusted defensive efficiency (96.0), and 40th in two-point percentage defense (45.1).

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: rebounds per game (8th, 6.1--Tillis), field goal percentage (7th, 0.541--Saran), three-point field goal percentage (2nd, 0.406--Hohn), three-point field goals per game (5th, 2.2--Hohn), assists per game (1st, 5.8--Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (4th, 2.4--Crockrell II), and blocks per game (5th, 1.3--C. Welling and 6th, 1.3--Keeler).

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 12.28.23
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in assists per game (33rd, 17.1), and field goal percentage (47th, 0.481).

NET WORTH
The first NET ranking of the season was released on Monday Dec. 4. The 'Eaters are the highest ranked and only Big West team within the top-100 sitting at 72 with Long Beach State locking in the second position at 107.
 

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UC Riverside at UC Irvine
Thursday, Dec. 28 | 7:00 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+) | Tickets | Game Program | UC Irvine Game Notes | UC Riverside Game Notes

ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE
> UC Riverside holds a 5-7  record entering the contest, picking up wins against UC Merced, Green Bay, Bethesda (CA), North Dakota, and Idaho
> Three of UCR's contests have been decided by one point (Montana State, UCLA, and California Baptist) which all resulted in losses
> The Highlanders last played on Dec. 21 with their 82-67 home victory over Idaho
> UC Riverside went 22-12 in 2022-23 and 14-6 in Big West action for a third place finish in the league
> The Highlanders advanced to the Big West Championship semifinals where they fell to UC Santa Barbara,  92-87
> UCR is in a rebuilding year after losing talent in All-Big West First Team selection Zyon Pullin, All-Big West Second Team honoree Flynn Cameron, Big West Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Hartwell, and Big West Freshman of the Year Lachlan Olbrich 
> Isaiah Moses leads the Highlanders in points per game (12.9) with 155 total points
> Barrington Hargress has posted 124 points (10.3 per game) in eight games started
> Both Moses and Hargress lead the team in assists with 60 and 49 respectively
> Ben Griscti has the best field goal percentage on the Highlanders squad (34-65, 0.523) and has grabbed a team best 4.3 rebounds a game
> Wil Tattersall is the only the second player on UCR to have started and play in all 12 games averaging 24.3 minutes on the court
> The Highlanders are being outscored by their opponents by 2.1 points
> UC Riverside was picked to finish seventh in the Big West Preseason Poll

BIG WEST OPENER
The Anteaters, along with nine other teams in the league, kick off conference action on Dec. 28. UCI holds a 22-13 record in Big West opening games, and are looking to win their sixth consecutive conference opener.

HOME COURT HEROES
In three games played in the Bren Events Center this season, UCI is averaging a shocking 107.7 points per game on their home court and 106 against Division I opposition. The Anteaters are also shooting at a blistering 0.577 clip (127-220) inside the Bren.

DUEL OF THE GUARDS
Thursday night's game will feature a duel between point guards, Pierre Crockrell II (UCI) and both Isaiah Moses and Barrington Hargress (UCR). Crockrell sits atop the Big West in total assists (69) and assists per game (5.8). Moses is second in the league with 60 total assists and 5.0 per game. Hargress is first in the Big West with a 3.1 assist turnover ratio.

GO FOR THE SCORE
UC Irvine will look to keep up their dangerous offense on their home court against UC Riverside as the Anteaters have a league best scoring margin of 10.1 points per game, the same difference of how many points the two squads are averaging this season (UCI, 79.3 and UCR, 69. 2). The Highlanders have allowed their opponents to shoot at a 0.454 clip from the floor while the 'Eaters are shooting at a 0.484 clip, good for second in the Big West.

'EATERS RAN AWAY WITH WIN OVER UC RIVERSIDE (MAR. 2)
The Anteaters earned the 75-65 victory over UC Riverside on Thursday evening. Center Bent Leuchten exploded for 15 points on 6-10 shooting while forward Dean Keeler went a perfect 5-5 from the field for 10 points. Ofure Ujadughele was an offensive and defensive weapon, dishing out a team best four assists while grabbing six rebounds (five off the defensive glass). Guard Pierre Crockrell II brought down a career high eight boards. The Anteaters shot at a 0.417 clip (5-12) from three-point range, their second consecutive game over 0.400.

UCI CLOSED NON-CONFERENCE WITH LOSS AT NEW MEXICO
New Mexico held off every rally from UC Irvine in the second half in a 78-65 victory over the Anteaters at The Pit in the non-conference finale. In the first-ever meeting between the schools, the Lobos (11-1) never surrendered their halftime lead, out-scoring UCI, 45-38 in the final 20 minutes. Guard Justin Hohn led the Anteaters with 14 points, including four three-pointers. Guards Andre Henry and Derin Saran each added nine points. Pierre Crockrell II dished six assists, a game best, to go with six points

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 14th nationally in bench points per game (34.08) and have out performed their opponent eight times this season with non-starters.

PUT IT IN THE PAINT
UCI has outscored their opponents by 166 points when scoring in the paint (UCI 490, Opp. 324). The Anteaters average 40.8 points in the paint per game and have scored 40 or more points in four games so far (Occidental-- 68, Pepperdine--48, Rice--44, and South Dakota--72).

DISHIN' DIMES
Pierre Crockrell II has led the Anteaters in 11 contests this season in assists with 69. The fifth year guard is averaging 5.8 assists per game and earned his 500th career dime in the win over New Mexico State on Nov. 11. Crockrell II nationally ranks 25th in both total assists and in assists per game while he sits atop the Big West in both categories. The guard recorded his first double-double of the season with season bests in points (12) and assists (11) against South Dakota (Dec. 16). The Anteaters are 5-4 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 164 total points and 13.7 points per game after his first career 20-point game at No. 16/20 USC with his 25 point outing and was followed by his second at Utah State with 21 points. The redshirt senior has 27 double figure scoring games in his career, the most of any player on the 2023-24 Anteater squad. Hohn reached 600 career points in his double digit scoring performance on December 2nd.

SEEING DOUBLE
Devin Tillis notched the Anteaters first double-double of the season on Saturday night (Nov. 11) 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 four games and double figure rebounding in two games played this season to lead UCI with 63 rebounds, 5.7 per game. 

THE ANDRE SPECIAL
Andre Henry has helped the Anteaters get it done on both ends of the court this season. From three-point range, Henry is shooting a team best 13-41 (0.419) and is a top shooter at the free throw line with his 23 makes (23-28, 0.821). The senior has stolen the ball from opponents a team best 17 times and is one of three players with 50+ rebounds on the season.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Freshman Carter Welling took over the starting position of center, making his Anteater debut versus Pepperdine on Nov. 21. Averaging 16.2 minutes a game, the center has grabbed 3.3 rebounds per game, blocked nine shots, and is putting up 5.9 points a game after a career high 12-point performance versus the Coyotes on Dec. 16.

FRESHMAN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Derin Saran is second on the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game over 12 games played and has one of the best shooting percentages on the Anteater squad (0.552, 58-105). Saran notched his 100th career point at Utah State and went on an eight game double figure scoring streak ranging from Nov. 17-Dec. 16. The young guard also has 43 rebounds, 24 assists, and 10 steals on the year.

MR. POSTMAN
Bent Leuchten dominates at the post whether it is scoring baskets or grabbing the all off the glass. The center returned to action for the Anteaters on Dec. 16 and is one of the teams leaders off the glass, averaging 4.3 rebounds a game in six contests played. Leucthen 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 2263 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 6th in assist rate (42.0) and Devin Tillis is 18th in two-point percentage (0.732). Out of 362 teams, UC Irvine ranks 11th in bench minutes (44.4), 34th in adjusted defensive efficiency (95.9), 36th in offensive steal percentage (7.5), and 49th in two-point percentage defense (45.4).

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: field goal percentage (5th, 0.552--Saran), three-point field goal percentage (2nd, 0.394--Hohn), three-point field goals per game (4th, 2.2--Hohn), assists per game (1st, 5.8--Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (5th, 2.2--Crockrell II), blocks per game (4th, 1.3--Keeler and 6th, 1.1--C. Welling), and steals per game (10th, 1.4--Henry).

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 12.26.23
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in assists per game (32nd, 17.2), field goal percentage (41st, 0.484), and rebounding margin (50th, 6.3).

NET WORTH
The first NET ranking of the season was released on Monday Dec. 4. The 'Eaters are the highest ranked and only Big West team within the top-100 sitting at 65 with Long Beach State locking in the second position at 125.