CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Six players scored in double figures as UC Irvine dominated Northern Iowa, 80-60, inside the McLeod Center in a Sunday matinee.
 
The Anteaters showed their offensive prowess throughout the contest as they shot 33-60 (0.550) from the floor on a Panther defense that averaged a 61.5-point scoring defense entering the contest.

Bent Leuchten posted a powerful game high 18 points on 7-12 shooting from the floor, eight rebounds, two assists, and a block. Justin Hohn was next in the scoring with his 13 points as he went 6-10 from the field and dished out a game best three assists.
 
Both Devin Tillis and Andre Henry chipped in 11 points each, both shooting 5-8 from the floor. Tillis was one board shy of a double-double with nine rebounds while Henry tallied three steals.
 
Rounding out the double figure scoring was Myles Che and Kyle Evans with 10 points apiece. Evans scored eight of his in the first half and finished 4-6 from the field. Che knocked down two three-pointers, the most of any Anteater.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Guard Jurian Dixon hit a triple, pulled down a rebound, and dished an assist
> Forward Ofure Ujadughele recorded two assists along with his basket
> Guard Langston Redfield scored a basket and pulled down three boards
> All 14 Anteaters played in the contest
> UC Irvine held the 39-27 advantage off the glass
> The Anteaters scored 48 of their points in the paint to the Panther's 24
> Northern Iowa had three double figure scorers, paced by Jacob Hutson's 13 points

FIRST HALF
> After winning the tip-off, UC Irvine retained possession and opened up the scoring when Justin Hohn (19:43) pump faked for a mid-range shot, then Bent Leuchten rose up and blocked a shot on the other side, 2-0
> Northern Iowa knocked down a three-pointer which led to the Anteaters rattling off a six straight on a Leuchten (18:05) floater, Hohn (16:58) drive to the hoop, and Myles Che (16:33) who faked left to then spin right for a paint floater, 8-3
> Each side went back-and-forth for two scores each until UCI was able to pour in five points off Langston Redfield's (13:15) deep two-pointer near the top of the key and a kickout from Ofure Ujadughele to Jurian Dixon (12:44) to drain a triple, 17-13
> After a second chance basket from Tillis (11:07), the Panthers equalized at 19-all before the Anteaters shot out by seven points, 26-19, after Andre Henry put away five, the last a three-point play (9:43)
> UNI closed within one point at 7:47 when they made the extra shot from the and-1, 31-30
> It became a three-point shootout between the Anteaters and Panthers as Leuchten kicked out to both Tillis (3:27) and Che (2:32) for treys, 43-34
> Henry (0:43) hit a clutch floater in the paint to end our final possession before UNI knocked down some free throws to end the half up 45-38
> UCI outscored UNI 22-16 in the paint, 8-2 second chance in the first half
 
SECOND HALF
> UCI shot out to a 53-41 advantage at 17:04 with four free throw makes and a hook shot from Leuchten and a Hohn contested jump shot
> The Anteaters went on a 7-2 run in a three-minute span powered by Henry's turnaround in the paint at 11:36, Che finding Tillis under the basket at 10:59, and Hohn knocking down a free throw (8:36) and a flying lay-up (8:11), 68-47
> UNI used a big hook shot and a three-pointer to close to 70-52 (5:57)
> Tillis found Leuchten running under the hoop at 2:36 and then Che (1:39) closed out the scoring with his shots at the line before UNI scored the final four points, 80-60
 
NOTES
> UC Irvine won their first ever meeting with Northern Iowa
> The last time the Anteaters had five or more double figure scorers was back on Feb. 24 at UC San Diego

UP NEXT
UC Irvine returns to the Bren Events Center on Saturday Nov. 16 for a 7 p.m. meeting with Pepperdine.