IRVINE, Calif. -- The Anteaters host a two-game conference home stand, first facing Orange County foe Cal State Fullerton (Jan. 4) before taking on UC Davis (Jan. 6).

UC Davis at UC Irvine
Saturday, Jan. 6 | 1:00 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (Spectrum SportsNet) | Tickets | Game Program | UC Irvine Game Notes | UC Davis Game Notes

ABOUT UC DAVIS
> UC Davis holds an 8-6 overall record entering the contest, picking up non-conference wins against Jessup, Pepperdine, North Dakota State, Pacific, and UC Merced
> The Aggies opened Big West action with two home games in Davis, the first being a convincing 76-62 win over UC Santa Barbara before taking down Cal Poly, 71-46
> On Thursday evening, UCD played in Riverside and came away with the 20-point victory over the Highlanders (83-63)
> UC Davis went 18-14 in 2022-23 and 11-8 in Big West action
> In the Big West Championship quarterfinals, the Aggies fell to UC Riverside, 68-52
> UC Davis returns their 2022-23 All-Big West First Team selection in Elijah Pepper who continues to break scoring records for the Aggies and All-Big West Honorable Mention Ty Johnson
> Ty Johnson and Elijah Pepper entered the season as the top returning back court 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 (21.6, 303 total)
> The fifth year guard in Pepper ranks top-50 nationally in nine different categories: 5th in total three-pointers made per game, 7th in three-pointers per game, 8th in both total points and points per game, 14th in both three-point attempts (118) and free throw percentage (0.927, 51-55), 16th in total field goals made (101), 20th in field goal attempts (218), and 31st in three-point percentage
> Ty Johnson scores 14.9 points per game (194 total) for the Aggies in 13 games played
> Johnson dishes out a team best 44 assists (3.4 per game) and is 6th in the Big West in steals (21)
> Guard Kane Milling helps contribute to the scoring effort for the Aggies with his 9.7 points per game 
> Nico Rocak is a competitor at the rim with his team best 68 rebounds (4.9 per game)
> Rocak's 31 offensive boards is good for fifth best in the Big West
> UC Davis was picked to finish fifth in the Big West Preseason Poll

TOP OF THE LEAGUE
After the opening three games of Big West action, UC Irvine (3-0) currently holds the top spot in the league standings and is one of four teams who are currently undefeated in league play. UC Davis (3-0) is the only other team to have won three straight in Big West games making Saturday's contest a crucial match-up for league standings. CSUN (2-0) and UC San Diego (2-0) are the other two squads who are off to an undefeated start in conference action.

GETTING REACQUAINTED
Prior to the two meetings in 2023, UC Irvine and UC Davis have not met with each other since the 2020 season. The back to back scheduled contests in the 2021 season were canceled due to COVID-19 as well as the two meetings in the 2022 season. 

KEEPING IT CLOSE
In 47 meetings between the two programs, 15 of them have been decided by three-points or fewer with six 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 Feb. 18, 2023 78-76 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 leads both the Anteaters and the conference in three-point percentage (0.438) while Pepper is second shooting at a 0.424 clip. The Aggies guard is seventh in the nation and first in the Big West with 3.6 three-pointers per game and the Anteaters guard is fourth with 2.3 makes from distance per game.

UC IRVINE OUTLASTS THE AGGIES INSIDE THE BREN (FEB. 18)
UC Irvine's starting lineup was outstanding as the Anteaters out-lasted UC Davis 78-76 at the Bren Events Center Saturday afternoon. UCI's starting lineup was productive, scoring 69 of the Anteater's 78 points. UC Davis (15-12, 8-7) took a 66-64 lead with 5:04 remaining, but the Anteaters would rise to score eight in a row to regain control 72-66 with 2:09 left. The Aggies closed to 72-71 before former Anteater DJ Davis hit a big three-pointer with 55 seconds on the clock. UCD responded with a three of their own and forced UCI to take a shot that bounced long, but Devin Tillis grabbed an important offensive rebound and was eventually fouled, making one of two. UC Davis's final half-court shot caromed off the backboard for the 78-76 UCI victory. The Anteaters improve to 19-8 overall and 12-3 in the Big West, picking up their fourth consecutive victory. 

CAREER LEADER BOARD WATCH
With 106 made three-pointers in his career, redshirt senior Justin Hohn is just seven makes away from catching Brett Lauer (2007-09) to enter into the career made three-pointers leaderboard. Additionally, Pierre Crockrell II is 28 assists from catching Patrick Rembert (2007-11) to become top-10 in program history for career assists.

UC IRVINE SHUTS DOWN CSUF WITH LAST MINUTE SURGE
UC Irvine scored the final nine points in a 75-67 victory over Cal State Fullerton at the Bren Events Center on Thursday. After taking a 67-66 lead with 2:34 remaining, the Titans would miss their final 10 shots and watch the Anteaters go five of six from the free throw line and get two big baskets by Pierre Crockrell II to improve to 3-0 in the Big West and 10-5 overall. Guards Justin Hohn and Derin Saran led UCI with 17 points each. Hohn was 6-11 from the floor and had three of UCI's seven three-pointers. Saran went 7-12 from the floor and 2-3 from long range in 18 minutes of action. Guard Pierre Crockrell II was 6-8 from the floor for a season best 12 points to go with four rebounds and two 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 22nd nationally in bench points per game (30.53) and have out performed their opponent eight times this season with non-starters.

DISHIN' DIMES
Pierre Crockrell II has led the Anteaters in 13 contests this season in assists with 94 total. The fifth year guard is averaging 6.3 assists per game and earned his 500th career dime in the win over New Mexico State on Nov. 11. Crockrell II nationally ranks 5th in total assists and 14th 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 7-4 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 212 total points and 14.1 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 30 double figure scoring games in his career, the most of any player on the 2023-24 Anteater squad, and has done so in 10 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 three games played this season to lead UCI with 85 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 one of the team's best percentages 16-38 (0.421) and is a top shooter at the free throw line with his 30 makes (30-39, 0.769). The senior has stolen the ball from opponents a team best 17 times and is one of four players with 50+ 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 4.8 rebounds a game in nine contests played. Leucthen has posted four double-figure scoring games since this year, the latest against Cal State Fullerton where he put up 10 points. 

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Freshman Carter Welling made his Anteater debut versus Pepperdine on Nov. 21 and has started in nine contests. Averaging 15.2 minutes a game, the center has grabbed 3.6 rebounds per game, blocked 14 shots, and is putting up 5.7 points a game after posting a career high 14-point performance versus the Highlanders on Dec. 28.

FRESHMAN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Derin Saran is second on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game over 15 games played and has one of the best shooting percentages on the Anteater squad (0.550, 71-129). 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 50 rebounds, 26 assists, and 11 steals on the year.

KENPOM LEADERS
Out of 2263 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 1st in assist rate (45.6) and Devin Tillis is 46th in two-point percentage (0.691). Out of 362 teams, UC Irvine ranks 12th in bench minutes (42.2), 23rd in two-point percentage defense (0.440), 23rd in three-point percentage offense (0.379), 39th in adjusted defensive efficiency (96.5), and 47th in effective field goal percentage defense (0.460).

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: rebounds per game (7th, 6.1--Tillis), field goal percentage (6th, 0.550--Saran and 10th, 0.487--Hohn), three-point field goal percentage (1st, 0.438--Hohn), three-point field goals per game (4th, 2.3--Hohn), assists per game (1st, 6.3--Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (2nd, 2.5--Crockrell II), and blocks per game (4th, 1.3--C. Welling and 7th, 1.2--Keeler).

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 1.4.24
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in assists per game (31st, 17.2), field goal percentage (34th, 0.489), and three-point field goal percentage (36th, 0.376).

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 71 with CSUN locking in the second position at 139 and Long Beach State right behind at 140.
 

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Cal State Fullerton at UC Irvine
Thursday, Jan. 4 | 7:00 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
AM 830 | Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+) | Tickets | Game Program | UC Irvine Game Notes | Cal State Fullerton Game Notes

ABOUT CAL STATE FULLERTON
> Cal State Fullerton holds an 8-6 overall record entering the contest, picking up non-conference wins against La Sierra, Southern Mississippi, North Dakota, Stanton, Pepperdine, Sacramento State, and Pacific
> The Titans opened Big West action at home in a 81-71 loss to Long Beach State before forcing overtime in Honolulu to defeat Hawai'i, 63-61
> CSUF has been outscored by their opponents 503-473 in the second half over 14 games played
> Cal State Fullerton went 20-13 in 2022-23 and 12-6 in Big West action
> In the Big West Championship quarterfinals, the Titans outlasted the Rainbow Warriors, 62-60, in an extra time battle
> After a tight 83-80 game with UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton found themselves in the Big West Championship game for the fourth time in five seasons where they dropped 72-62 to UC Santa Barbara 
> CSUF is finding their footing after losing talent in All-Big West First Team selection Latrell Wrightsell, Jr. (transferred), one of their top scorers Jalen Harris (graduated), and six reserves who parted ways 
> Cal State Fullerton returns their 2022-23 Big West Defensive Player of the Year in Tory San Antonio who has only started three of his five games played
> Max Jones has posted a team best 222 points in 13 games played, averaging 17.1 on the year so far
> Jones has taken and made the most free throws for CSUF, 63-81 (0.778)
> Transfer Dominic Brewton has started in all 14 games for the Titans and scores 14.9 points per game (209 total)
> Brewton controls the passing with a team best 35 assists (2.5 per game)
> Grayson Carper is the second player and final player on CSUF to have started and play in all 14 games averaging 29.7 minutes on the court and a team best 5.4 rebounds per game (76 total)
> Carper is a sharp shooter from distance going a team best 27-72 (0.375) from three-point range
> The Titans have used five different starting lineups this season
> Cal State Fullerton was picked to finish sixth in the Big West Preseason Poll

TOP OF THE LEAGUE
After the opening week of Big West action, UC Irvine (2-0) is one of four teams who are currently undefeated in league play. CSUN (2-0) holds the top position in the league, followed by the Anteaters, UC Davis (2-0), and UC San Diego (1-0). 

DOWN TO THE WIRE
In the 120 game history between the Anteaters and the Titans, the last six games played have been decided by five points or less (CSUF 5-1). 31 total games between the two squads have ended with a five point or fewer differential.

CRASH THE BOARDS
UC Irvine ranks third in the Big West in rebounding margin (+6.4) and fourth in rebounds per game (38.4) while Cal State Fullerton is ninth in rebounds per game (33.6) and tenth in rebounding margin (-2.4). The Anteaters have dominated the battle at the glass ten times in 14 games played and in two consecutive conference contests.

UC IRVINE FALLS TO CSUF IN BIG WEST SEMIFINALS (MAR. 10)
The Orange County rivalry was present in the physical battle between No. 1 seeded UC Irvine and No. 4 seeded Cal State Fullerton. In a game that saw six ties, the Titans prevailed 83-80 in the semifinals of the Big West Championship at the Dollar Loan Center. UCI shot 26-50 (.520) from the floor, their 11th game this season shooting above a .500 clip in a contest. Guard Pierre Crockrell II posted a season best 12 points on 6-8 shooting. Devin Tillis led all players with seven grabs off the glass and was one point shy of hitting double figures (9). Forward Dean Keeler blocked two shots and dished out a career-high three assists.

DIME A DOZEN
With 16 assists in the 19-point road win in Bakersfield, Pierre Crockrell II was one assist away from tying the school record of assists in a game (17) set by Raimonds Miglinieks on Feb. 2, 1995 versus UNLV. Crockrell II is the fourth player in the nation to record 16 or more assists in a game this season and second player to do so against a Division I opponent. Elijah Hawkins, the nation's assist leader from Minnesota, had 17 assists versus IUPUI on Dec. 12, 2023.

CAREER LEADER BOARD WATCH
With 103 made three-pointers in his career, redshirt senior Justin Hohn is just ten makes away from catching Brett Lauer (2007-09) to enter into the career made three-pointers leaderboard. Additionally, Pierre Crockrell II is 30 assists from catching Patrick Rembert (2007-11) to become top-10 in program history for career assists.

HUGE SECOND HALF OFFENSIVE EFFORT LIFTS UCI PAST CSUB
UC Irvine used a 51-point second half to defeat Cal State Bakersfield on the road, 75-56, to close out an exciting 2023. The Anteaters shot at a shocking 0.760 clip (19-25) from the floor in the second half, 0.833 (5-6) from three-point range to finish the game 29-49 (0.592). Pierre Crockrell II recorded his second double double of the season with an impressive 10 points and career best 16 assists. Redshirt senior Justin Hohn posted 18 points on 6-8 shooting (0.750) with four makes from three-point range. Junior Bent Leuchten returned to the starting lineup in which he went 6-9 (0.667) from the floor for 15 points. Freshman Derin Saran rounded out the double digit scoring with his 14 points along with a team best four makes from the free throw line (4-4, 1.000).

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 24th nationally in bench points per game (30.86) and have out performed their opponent eight times this season with non-starters.

DISHIN' DIMES
Pierre Crockrell II has led the Anteaters in 13 contests this season in assists with 92. The fifth year guard is averaging 6.6 assists per game and earned his 500th career dime in the win over New Mexico State on Nov. 11. Crockrell II nationally ranks 7th in total assists and 11th 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 7-4 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 195 total points and 13.9 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 29 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. The forward has recorded double-figure scoring in five games and double figure rebounding in three games played this season to lead UCI with 80 rebounds, 6.2 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 16-36 (0.444) 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.

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 eight contests played. Leucthen has posted three double-figure scoring games since this year, the latest at Cal State Fullerton where he put up 15 points in 20 minutes of action. 

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Freshman Carter Welling made his Anteater debut versus Pepperdine on Nov. 21 and has started in nine contests. Averaging 15.8 minutes a game, the center has grabbed 3.5 rebounds per game, blocked 14 shots, and is putting up 6.3 points a game after posting a career high 14-point performance versus the Highlanders on Dec. 28.

FRESHMAN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Derin Saran is second on the team in scoring with 11.0 points per game over 14 games played and has one of the best shooting percentages on the Anteater squad (0.547, 64-117). 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 49 rebounds, 25 assists, and 10 steals on the year.

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: rebounds per game (8th, 6.2--Tillis), field goal percentage (6th, 0.547--Saran), three-point field goal percentage (1st, 0.432--Hohn), three-point field goals per game (4th, 2.3--Hohn), assists per game (1st, 6.6--Crockrell II), assist-turnover ratio (2nd, 2.6--Crockrell II), and blocks per game (4th, 1.3--C. Welling and 7th, 1.2--Keeler).

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 1.2.24
UC Irvine is ranked top-50 nationally in assists per game (31st, 17.3), field goal percentage (35th, 0.488), and three-point field goal percentage (41st, 0.374).

KENPOM LEADERS
Out of 2272 eligible players, Pierre Crockrell II is 1st in assist rate (42.6) and Devin Tillis is 38th in two-point percentage (0.698). Out of 362 teams, UC Irvine ranks 12th in bench minutes (42.9), 26th in two-point percentage defense (0.443), 29th in three-point percentage offense (0.377), and 31st in adjusted defensive efficiency (95.2).

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 66 with CSUN locking in the second position at 135.