IRVINE, Calif. -- Guard Justin Hohn had a game-high 22 points in UC Irvine's 77-72 victory over CSUN in front of 3,441 fans at the Bren Events Center.

Hohn shot 9-18 from the floor, including three-pointers, for his third 20-point outing of the season and his career.

Forward Dean Keeler recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to go with three blocks. The fifth-year senior was clutch down the stretch, ending the night 8-11 from the free throw line.

UCI improves to 8-1 in the Big West and 15-6 overall and remains to be the only team in the conference undefeated on their home floor (8-0).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Guard Andre Henry went 4-8 from the floor, all three-pointers for 12 points
> Forward Carter Welling shot 4-7 from the field and 3-5 from the free throw line for 11 points off the bench
> Forward Devin Tillis totaled eight points and seven rebounds
> Tillis led the distribution effort with a game best four assists
> The Anteaters held the edge off the glass, 43-36
> UCI shot 26-59 (0.441) from the field and 17-25 (0.680) from the line
> CSUN was led by Dionte Bostick with 18 points on 6-15 shooting from the floor and 5-6 from the line

FROM HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER
"I am pleased to close this game out. It was kind of similar to what we have seen before when were not as confident. We made some foolish plays when we had the lead and maybe took some ill-advised shots. When it got tighter, we were less certain of where to play and how to play. Justin [Hohn] stepped up and made big plays and Dean [Keeler] knocked down some big free throws which I am really pleased we found a way to win. I am also really hungry to get better down the stretch."

"All of these guys [Keeler, Leuchten, and C. Welling] can play. We recruited a bunch of guys because we believe that when you can go up against each other in practice that is how you can improve which you can then expect in a game. Dean had that tonight."

"I spoke to the team that the calender flips by the time we play our next game in February and that we have to do what we typical do in February which is improve in a lot of different areas. I think with this team it is especially offensively so we get our role definition better in tact. We have a lot of confidence in late in the game it makes us have strange decisions."

FROM DEAN KEELER
"It was big. Like Coach Turner says, you got to find something you hate that gets yourself going and I definitely made it my performance at Long Beach State and I was glad that I was able to turn it around here tonight. I banked on my teammates and leaned on them. They have my back and I have theirs."

"I like to think of myself as that physical big that is down to do the dirty work. When I am expecting those games, it is not much that is different in the preparation than any other game."

"Carter [Welling], Bent [Leuchten], and all the other big's, I love those guys. They have my back every day in and out and I try have theirs. I feel like not many teams in the NCAA has three really well five men that can play at any point in the game, so I think we are really able to create an advantage off of that."

FIRST HALF
> In a closely contested start, a three-pointer by Andre Henry (10:59) and a Dylan Thoerner (10:30) layup gave UCI a 17-13 lead
> The Matadors would then score 11 in a row to move in front 24-17 at 7:27
> The Anteaters exploded on an 12-2 run, started by a three-pointer and layup by Justin Hohn and capped by a Hohn jumper and two Dean Keeler free throws to give UCI a 29-26 lead at 4:03
> CSUN answered right back with the next seven points, 33-29 (1:51)
> Hohn knocked down another three with 22 seconds left in the half to knot the score at 34-34

SECOND HALF
> Two Keeler free throws (18:19) and a layup and extra free throw by Devin Tillis (17:44) was followed by a Henry three-pointer to open a 43-36 Anteater lead at 17:12
> Following a CSUN three-pointer, UCI scored five more on a Hohn layup and free throw and two from the stripe by Carter Welling, 48-39 (15:41)
> A Thoerner three in front of the Anteater bench followed by a Hohn layup made it 62-48 with 10 minutes to play
> Hohn's three-pointer gave the Anteaters a 66-52 advantage at 7:31 before CSUN ignited a 9-0 run to creep within 66-61 at 5:21
> Keeler had a block on one end then put away two from the free throw line on the other to give UCI a 72-66 lead at 2:26
> CSUN wouldn't go away scoring the next five, 72-70, with 1:32 left
> Hohn came up big again with a jumper with a minute on the clock, 74-70 only to watch the Matadors have a layup on the next possession to keep it tight, 74-72 (0:50)
> Following a UCI timeout, Keeler battled for a rebound and came away with the ball and was fouled. He made both from the charity stripe with 20 ticks left, 76-72
> Keeler was big again stepping in front and taking the ball away from the Matador and drew the contact. He made the second of two with four seconds left to seal the 77-72 victory

NOTES
> UCI won its fourth straight against the Matadors
> With three three-pointers tonight, Hohn has 112 in his career, one shy of moving into a tie with Brett Lauer (2007-09) to enter the UCI career three-pointers made leader board

UP NEXT
UCI hits the road, traveling to Cal Poly Thursday (Feb. 1) before returning home to host Hawai'i on Feb. 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Events Center.