IRVINE, Calif. -- UC Irvine will take on the other undefeated team in the league, UC San Diego, in the battle for the top spot in the Big West on Thursday (Jan. 18) before making the trip up to UC Davis (Jan. 20) in hopes to complete the series sweep.

UC Irvine at UC Davis
Saturday, Jan. 20 | 2:00 p.m. PT
University Credit Union Center | Davis, Calif.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+) | Tickets | Game Notes

ABOUT UC DAVIS
> UC Davis holds an 11-6 overall record entering the contest and improved to 6-1 in the Big West to claim second place
> On Thursday evening, UCD played in Fullerton and came away with the two-point victory over the Titans (67-65) after trailing most of the contest
> Ty Johnson and Elijah Pepper entered the season as the top returning backcourt scoring duo in the country and are both top-12 in Big West in scoring this season
> Pepper leads UCD and the Big West in points per game (21.9, 394 total)
> The fifth year guard in Pepper ranks top-20 nationally in nine different categories: 3rd in total three-point field goals made (63), 5th in total three-pointers made per game (3.5), 6th in both three-point field goal attempts (158) and points per game (21.9), 7th in points (294), 8th in field goal attempts (288), 16th in field goals (129), and 17th in free throw percentage (0.913)
> With 27 points against Cal State Fullerton, Pepper is only four points away from reaching the 2,000 career points milestone
> Ty Johnson scores 15.9 points per game (270 total) for the Aggies in 17 games played
> Johnson dishes out a team best 61 assists (3.7 per game) and is 4th in the Big West in steals (32)
> Guard Kane Milling rounds out the double figure scoring with his 10.1 points per game (181 total)
> Milling had a monstrous 26 point performance in the 95-75 victory over CSUN (Jan. 11)
> Nico Rocak is a competitor at the rim with his team best 85 rebounds (4.7 per game)
> Rocak's 42 offensive boards is good for fourth best in the Big West
> Leo DeBruhl contributes to the distribution with his 41 assists
> UC Davis was picked to finish fifth in the Big West Preseason Poll

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE
After defeating UC San Diego on Thursday night in the battle of the unbeaten's, UC Irvine controls the Big West standings with their 6-0 league record. Saturday's match up with UC Davis is important as the Aggies enter the contest with a 6-1 conference record as they will want to avenge their overtime loss to the Anteaters just two weeks prior. UCI looks to improve to 7-0 to separate themselves from the pack and get off to their best Big West start since the 2005-06 when the 'Eaters won eight straight games.

KEEPING IT CLOSE
In 48 meetings between the two programs, 16 of them have been decided by three-points or fewer with seven games decided by three points, six by two points, and three by one. UC Irvine won the last three-point or fewer margin game against UC Davis on Jan. 6, 2024, 74-71 in Irvine.

THREE-POINT SHOT CALLERS
Saturday's game between UC Irvine and UC Davis will see a battle between two of the Big West's top three-point shooters in Justin Hohn and Elijah Pepper. Hohn is second in the conference in three-point percentage (0.422) while Pepper is third shooting at a 0.399 clip. The Aggies guard is fifth in the nation and first in the Big West with 3.5 three-pointers per game and the Anteaters guard is fifth in the league with 2.1 makes from distance.

IMPROVEMENT FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
UC Irvine has become laser focused at the free throw line and will enter Saturday's game with a 0.743 free throw percentage (254-342) and 0.817 (94-115) in Big West games. The Anteaters rose 124 spots in the national rankings for free throw percentage since the start of league play (was 195 prior to Dec. 28) and are currently 71st, the highest ranked Big West team in this category. 

UCI DEFEATS UC DAVIS IN ELECTRIFYING FASHION (JAN. 6)
Guard Justin Hohn sent the game into overtime with four second remaining as UC Irvine held off UC Davis for a 74-71 victory at the Bren Events Center Saturday afternoon. Hohn slipped baseline for a reverse layup with four seconds left to tie the game at 62-62 in regulation. After a quick four-point start to the overtime, UCI would not relinquish the lead going 8-8 from the free throw to solidify the win. Hohn and center Bent Leuchten led UCI with 14 points each. Hohn went 5-10 from the floor with three assists, while Leuchten was 4-8 from the field, including 6-6 from the line. Additionally, the junior center added nine rebounds and an important block late in the game. 

CAREER LEADER BOARD WATCH
With 107 made three-pointers in his career, redshirt senior Justin Hohn is just four makes away from catching Brett Lauer (2007-09) to enter into the career made three-pointers leader board. Additionally, Pierre Crockrell II is 16 assists from catching Patrick Rembert (2007-11) to become top-10 in program history for career assists.

GOOD DEFENSE AND UNSELFISH PLAY IN VICTORY OVER UCSD
In the battle of unbeaten Big West teams, UC Irvine prevailed with a 76-65 victory over UC San Diego in an electric Bren Events Center on Thursday night. Guard Andre Henry was stellar on both ends of the court. The junior led the Anteater offense with 18 points, hitting 7-12 from the floor, including 4-6 from three-point range while holding UCSD's Bryce Pope, who averages 18.7 points per game, to just eight points on 1-8 from the field and 6-6 from the stripe. The Anteaters shot 28-57 (0.472) for the game, including a blistering 16-29 (0.429) in the second half. UCI hit nine three-pointers and were also impressive from the free throw line, going 11-12 (0.917). Unselfish play resulted in 19 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 34th nationally in bench points per game (28.39) and have out performed their opponent eight times this season with non-starters.

DISHIN' DIMES
Pierre Crockrell II has led the Anteaters in 15 contests this season in assists with 106 total. The fifth year guard is averaging 5.9 assists per game and earned his 500th career dime in the win over New Mexico State on Nov. 11. Crockrell II nationally ranks 19th in total assists and 24th in assists per game while he sits atop the Big West in both categories. The guard recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and career best 16 assists at Cal State Bakersfield (Dec. 30). The Anteaters are 8-4 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 252 total points and 14.0 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 33 double figure scoring games in his career, the most of any player on the 2023-24 Anteater squad, and has done so in 13 consecutive games. Hohn reached 700 career points in his double digit scoring performance on January 4th.

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. The forward has recorded double-figure scoring in five games and double figure rebounding in four games played this season to lead UCI with 110 rebounds, 6.5 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 the team's best percentages 23-49 (0.469) and is a top shooter at the free throw line with his 34 makes (34-43, 0.791). The senior has stolen the ball from opponents 18 times and is one of three players with 70+ rebounds on the season.

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 4.9 rebounds a game in 12 contests played. Leucthen has posted five double-figure scoring games since this year, the latest against UC Davis where he put up 14 points. 

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Freshman Carter Welling made his Anteater debut versus Pepperdine on Nov. 21 and has started in nine contests. Averaging 14.6 minutes a game, the center has grabbed 3.6 rebounds per game, blocked 14 shots, and is putting up 6.2 points a game after posting a career high 14-point performance versus the Highlanders on Dec. 28. In the win at Hawai'i on Jan. 11, Welling was efficient in his 10 minutes on the floor going a perfect 5-5 from the floor and drew the and-1 call on his first career made three-pointer.

FRESHMAN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Derin Saran is second on the team in scoring with 10.8 points per game over 17 games played and has one of the best shooting percentages on the Anteater squad (0.547, 76-139). 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 55 rebounds, 30 assists, and 13 steals on the year.

KENPOM LEADERS
Out of 2251 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 2nd in assist rate (43.2). Out of 362 teams, UC Irvine ranks 14th in bench minutes (41.1), 17th in effective field goal percentage defense (0.453), 20th in two-point percentage defense (0.440), 30th in three-point percentage offense (0.377), and 32nd in adjusted defensive efficiency (96.6).

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: rebounds per game (6th, 6.5--Tillis), field goal percentage (6th, 0.547--Saran), free throw percentage (10th, 0.755--Leuchten), three-point field goal percentage (2nd, 0.422--Hohn), three-point field goals per game (5th, 2.1--Hohn), assists per game (1st, 5.9--Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (2nd, 2.6--Crockrell II), and blocks per game (6th, 1.2--Leuchten, 8th,  1.1--Keeler, and 10th, 1.0--C. Welling).

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 1.18.24
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in assists per game (29th, 16.8), field goal percentage defense (30th, 0.398), field goal percentage (33rd, 0.482), three-point field goal percentage (37th, 0.375).

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 68 with UC San Diego locking in the second position at 115.
 

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UC San Diego at UC Irvine
Thursday, Jan. 18 | 7:00 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+) | Tickets | Game Program | UC Irvine Game Notes | UC San Diego Game Notes

ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO
> UC San Diego holds an 11-6 overall record entering the contest, picking up non-conference wins against Denver, San Diego, La Verne, Navy, Occidental, and Sacramento State
> Much like UCI, the Tritons have opened Big West action 5-0 including their first ever road win at UC Santa Barbara, 18-point victory at Cal State Fullerton, and most recently their win at Long Beach State by a 14-point margin
> UCSD has also defeated conference foe's, Cal State Bakersfield (76-64) and Cal Poly (86-61)
> Five straight wins to start Big West action is the best mark for UC San Diego in program history
> Head Coach Eric Olen collected his 200th career victory at Cal Poly on Saturday Jan. 13
> UC San Diego went 10-20 in 2022-23 and 5-13 in Big West action
> The Tritons are in their final year of the four year NCAA Division I transition and will be eligible for the Big West and NCAA postseasons in 2024-25
> Bryce Pope paces UC San Diego's offense with 18.7 points per game (318 total) on 0.421 shooting from the floor (112-266)
> Tyler McGhie is averaging 14.4 points in only seven games played
> Both Francis Nwaokorie and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones are averaging over 12 points per game with 12.5 (213 total) and 12.1 (205 total), respectively
> The duo are team leaders for the Tritons in rebounds, both grabbing 89 each so far this season (5.2 rpg)
> Hayden Gray rounds out the double figure scoring with his 10 points per game 
> Gray and Tait-Jones distribute the ball 3.4 times a game, a team best
> Transfer Emmanuel Tshimanga grabs a team best 5.7 rebounds per game in 10 appearances
> UCSD leads the Big West in three-pointers made per game (9.1) and free throw percentage (0.763, 248-325)
> UC San Diego was picked to finish ninth in the Big West Preseason Poll

CLASH OF THE UNDEFEATED
Thursday's contest will feature the last two remaining undefeated teams in the Big West, UC Irvine (12-5, 5-0 BW) and UC San Diego (11-6, 5-0 BW) in a battle for first place. The Anteaters boast a 6-0 record inside the Bren this season while the Tritons have won three straight road contests to improve to 4-4 away from La Jolla. UCI looks to win their sixth straight contest in the opening of league play for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

DEFENSIVE INTENT
UC Irvine ranked second in the NCAA last week (Jan. 8-14) in scoring defense limiting their opponent to 50 points, a season low scored against the Anteaters. Additionally, the Anteaters only allowed their opponent to make three of their 17 three-point attempts (0.176), another season low against the Anteaters, and dropped their overall field goal percentage defense to 0.399 which ranks 40th in the nation.

LEADING THE SCORING
The Anteaters hold a 10.5 scoring margin in their 17 contests played so far this season, the best mark in the Big West. Thursday's opposition, the Tritons, hold the league's second spot with their 10.4 scoring margin. UC San Diego averages 0.9 more points on the offensive end (UCSD 77.8 and UCI 76.9) while UC Irvine holds their opponents to one less point than the Tritons on the defensive end (UCI 66.5, UCSD 67.5).

IMPROVEMENT FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
UC Irvine has become laser focused at the free throw line and will enter Thursday's game with a 0.736 free throw percentage (243-300) and 0.806 (83-103) in Big West games. The Anteaters have rose up 107 spots in the national rankings for free throw percentage since the start of league play (was 195 prior to Dec. 28) and are currently 88th, the highest ranked Big West team in this category. 

ANTEATERS DROP HOME CONTEST TO UC SAN DIEGO (FEB. 23)
Former Anteater Dawson Baker poured in a career-high 33 points, but it wasn't enough as UC San Diego topped UC Irvine, 99-91, Thursday at the Bren Events Center. Baker went 10-21 from the floor and 10-11 from the free throw line to lead all players in 33 minutes of action, scoring 27 in the second half and 33 total, the most points scored by an Anteater player this season. UCI scored 62 second half points after trailing 47-29 at halftime.  The Tritons went 15-36 from three-point distance. The 15 three's were the most by a UCI opponent in 2022-23. UCSD shot 48.4 percent from the field (30-62) and hit 18 free throws in the final five minutes of action. 

CAREER LEADER BOARD WATCH
With 107 made three-pointers in his career, redshirt senior Justin Hohn is just six makes away from catching Brett Lauer (2007-09) to enter into the career made three-pointers leader board. Additionally, Pierre Crockrell II is 20 assists from catching Patrick Rembert (2007-11) to become top-10 in program history for career assists.

UCI OUTLASTS HAWAI'I IN FIFTH STRAIGHT BIG WEST VICTORY
Balanced offense from UC Irvine in addition to playing stout defense against Hawai'i helped the Anteaters to a 60-50 victory inside the Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday evening. Pierre Crockrell II controlled the offense for UCI with his season best 16 points on 8-15 (0.533) shooting from the floor while dishing out a game high three assists. Guard Justin Hohn was the first two reach double figures with 12 points including a three-pointer. Forward Carter Welling was efficient with 12 points in 9:45 minutes on the court. C. Welling went a perfect 5-5 from the field, 1-1 from three-point range, and 1-1 at the charity stripe. UCI held the then top three-point making team in the conference to 3-17 (0.176) shooting from long 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 25th nationally in bench points per game (29.12) and have out performed their opponent eight times this season with non-starters.

DISHIN' DIMES
Pierre Crockrell II has led the Anteaters in 15 contests this season in assists with 99 total. The fifth year guard is averaging 6.0 assists per game and earned his 500th career dime in the win over New Mexico State on Nov. 11. Crockrell II nationally ranks 20th in total assists and 21st in assists per game while he sits atop the Big West in both categories. The guard recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and career best 16 assists at Cal State Bakersfield (Dec. 30). The Anteaters are 8-4 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 238 total points and 14.0 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 32 double figure scoring games in his career, the most of any player on the 2023-24 Anteater squad, and has done so in 12 consecutive games. Hohn reached 700 career points in his double digit scoring performance on January 4th.

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. The forward has recorded double-figure scoring in five games and double figure rebounding in four games played this season to lead UCI with 101 rebounds, 6.3 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 one of the team's best percentages 19-43 (0.442) and is a top shooter at the free throw line with his 34 makes (34-43, 0.791). The senior has stolen the ball from opponents 17 times and is one of three players with 70+ rebounds on the season.

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 5.2 rebounds a game in 11 contests played. Leucthen has posted five double-figure scoring games since this year, the latest against UC Davis where he put up 14 points. 

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Freshman Carter Welling made his Anteater debut versus Pepperdine on Nov. 21 and has started in nine contests. Averaging 14.8 minutes a game, the center has grabbed 3.7 rebounds per game, blocked 14 shots, and is putting up 6.2 points a game after posting a career high 14-point performance versus the Highlanders on Dec. 28. In the win at Hawai'i on Jan. 11, Welling was efficient in his 10 minutes on the floor going a perfect 5-5 from the floor and drew the and-1 call on his first career made three-pointer.

FRESHMAN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Derin Saran is second on the team in scoring with 11.1 points per game over 16 games played and has one of the best shooting percentages on the Anteater squad (0.552, 74-134). 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 54 rebounds, 27 assists, and 12 steals on the year.

KENPOM LEADERS
Out of 2260 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 2nd in assist rate (44.1). Out of 362 teams, UC Irvine ranks 14th in bench minutes (41.5), 19th in two-point percentage defense (0.439), 21st in effective field goal percentage defense (0.454), 33rd in adjusted defensive efficiency (96.3), and 37th in three-point percentage offense (0.373).

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: rebounds per game (6th, 6.3--Tillis), field goal percentage (6th, 0.552--Saran), three-point field goal percentage (2nd, 0.424--Hohn), three-point field goals per game (5th, 2.1--Hohn), assists per game (1st, 6.0--Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (2nd, 2.5--Crockrell II), and blocks per game (6th and 8th, 1.1--Keeler and C. Welling).

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 1.16.24
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in assists per game (31st, 16.6), field goal percentage (34th, 0.481), field goal percentage defense (40th,0.399), three-point field goal percentage (45th, 0.371), and rebound margin (49th, 6.5).

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 UC San Diego locking in the second position at 114.