TAIPEI, Taiwan – Balanced offense leads UC Irvine to a 80-48 victory over Iran on Friday evening.

Andre Henry went a perfect 3-3 from three-point range and shot a 0.625 clip from the floor for 16 points.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Three Anteaters scored in double digits: Henry, Ofure Ujadughele, and Emilis Butkus
>Freshman Jurian Dixon knocked down three shots from the field (3-3, 1.000)
>Ujadughele and Carter Welling each made a game high five shots from the line
>UCI held the slight advantage off the glass, 45-39
>UC Irvine scored 21 second chance points, 36 bench points, and 28 in the paint
>Freshman Derin Saran led the team off the glass, grabbing nine rebounds
>Center Bent Leuchten recorded four of the Anteaters five blocks

Andre Henry got the scoring started for the 'Eaters with his jumper before the Iranians responded on a three-point play. The lead switched sides five times before the period ended with UCI leading 12-10. Henry had five points in the first 10 minutes of the contest. Forwards Ofure Ujaghudele and Hayden Welling contributed two points each.

Iran came out fighting just as hard as they did in the first quarter putting some pressure on the Anteaters. Henry scored five more points before the media break in the second quarter to help UCI stay tied with their opponent, 21-21. Answering to the knotted score, Emilis Butkus and Bent Leuchten hit back-to-back triples, forcing Iran to call a timeout. Before the period would end, Ujadughele was fouled hard on his way up and completed the three-point play while Carter Welling made both his shots from the line. UCI led 36-24 at the half.

The three's from Butkus and Leuchten fired up the team as they came out energized in the third period. Guard Langston Redfield knocked down a trey right after Henry hit one of the previous offensive possession. Offense continued to run for the 'Eaters as Jurian Dixon made two straight baskets as UC Irvine went up 57-38.

Defense was strong in the final stanza as UCI limited Iran to only 10 points. Leuchten blocked three shots in his three minutes on the floor. Offensive highlights of the period include Dixon posting five points and Derin Saran's bunny hop for a two-handed put in.

UP NEXT
The Anteaters will battle against the other undefeated team in the Jones Cup, Chinese Taipei A National team, in a 7 p.m. China Standard Time (4 a.m. PST) showdown.