LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC Irvine remains atop the Big West standings as they defeated UC San Diego, the previous winners of 12 straight contests, 60-52, in a sold out LionTree Arena Saturday evening.
 
The Anteaters defense clamped down to hold the Tritons to 52 points, the lowest offensive production from UCSD this season. It is the eighth time this season where UCI has held opponents to under 60 points and fourth time under 52 tallies. 
 
Center Bent Leuchten was a dominant force going for 23 points and 13 rebounds to notch his seventh double-double of the season. Leuchten exploded in the second half where he scored 15 points with six makes from the line (6-7) and pulled down seven boards.
 
Myles Che pulled together a 15-point effort on the strength of three three-pointers (3-7), tying his career-best, and dished out a team-high four assists.
 
UC Irvine improves to 15-2 on the season and 5-0 in the Big West. The Anteaters won their eighth contest on the road this season, the most of any team in the country, and 11th away from Irvine. UC San Diego drops to 14-3 (4-1 BW) as they suffered their first defeat since Nov. 16, 2024, against Seattle.
 
FROM HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER
"It was a great environment here tonight for a high-level basketball game against two good teams. Credit to UC San Diego for what they have already done this year. I am super proud of the team effort that our team put forth that represents belief that has been hard earned and we have executed our defensive game plan really well and took them out of rhythm. We were able to win the game mostly because of that. Offensive performances from Myles [Che], Justin [Hohn] made some big shots, and Bent [Leuchten] was just terrific again. A lot of guys played really well. We have to handle success now and focus on some home games after being on the road a lot. I hope the community at UC Irvine will appreciate and support what these guys are doing because I think we are representing our university really well."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Guard Justin Hohn finished in double figures, contributing 11 points with three triples
> Forward Devin Tillis scored five points to go with 11 rebounds
> Tillis recorded double digit rebounds for the fifth time this season
> Jurian Dixon tied his career-best six boards and dished out two assists
> UC Irvine held the Tritons to under their season average in steals with six takeaways
> 10 of UC Irvine's assists came in the first half on 13 made baskets
> UCI outrebounded UCSD, 45-32
> UC San Diego was paced by Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones 17 points with five makes from the line along with three assists and a block
 
FIRST HALF
> Both teams took turns exchanging the lead in the first two and a half minutes into the contest as Justin Hohn (18:48) knocked down a three-pointer to put UC Irvine on the board before UC San Diego rattled off three unanswered to move in front, 5-3 (17:54)
> Kyle Evans (17:30) produced at the post to even the score 5-all before elevating on the defensive end for a swat at the cup
> The Tritons pulled ahead by six, 14-8 at 14:55, on a long-range shot, then the Anteaters brought it within three on a Myles Che (14:34) baseline shot and a Berk Can Akin (13:41) free throw, 14-11
> Hohn skipped the ball over to Che (11:06) in the corner for a triple, 19-16
> Bent Leuchten got into the action with a pass out from the post to Che for a three in front of the Triton bench before turning around in the paint for the jumper to move the 'Eaters ahead 21-20 (7:56)
> UCI jumped out to an eight-point advantage when Leuchten went up for the two-hand flush at 4:56, 30-22
> Che (1:02) converted twice at the free throw line to maintain before the Tritons saw two triples fall in the final 47 seconds of the half to bring the Anteater lead down to two, 34-32
 
SECOND HALF
> Coming off a fiery first half, Che knocked in his third trey of the evening on the opening possession, 37-32 at 19:12
> After holding UC San Diego off the board for over three and a half minutes, the Tritons responded with a triple at 16:25 to stay within striking distance, 37-35
> UCSD poured in nine unanswered, seven in a 90 second stretch, to pull ahead 44-38 (11:01)
> Hohn made the basket to stop the scoring drought at 10:36 and then after regaining possession, Leuchten (10:15) drained his signature top of the arc three-pointer to make it a one-point game, 44-43
> Leuchten put in the work to push the Anteaters back in front as Leuchten converted the three-point play (9:29), made a layup (8:03), and made two shots from the line (7:12) to move in front 50-46
> UCI got crafty with Hohn weaving around the defense and stepped back for three at 4:46 to silent the Triton crowd, 53-46
> UCSD closed within five at 1:25, 55-50, with a ball off the glass on their play drawn up in the timeout
> Leuchten put away four of the Anteaters last six points, all at the charity stripe, to make it a 10-point game with 11 seconds remaining (60-50)
> The Tritons got to the line with eight seconds left in the contest to finish, 60-52
 
NOTES
> UC Irvine held the nation's best three-point shooter Tyler McGhie and steal leader Hayden Gray to zero triples (averages 4.1 a game) and one steal (averages 3.9 a contest)
> UCI has remained as the last undefeated team in the Big West for three straight seasons
> Bent Leuchten posted his fifth 20+ point effort of the season
> Devin Tillis now sits 22nd in the all-time rebounding list with 540, just 13 behind Eric Wise (553, 2008-11) for 21st
> Justin Hohn is now tied for seventh in the career steals leader board with both Ben McDonald (123, 1980-84) and Scott Brooks (123, 1985-87)
> Hohn is the 28^th all-time scorer in the program now just 13 points away from moving in front of Patrick Sanders (1,136—2004-08) for 27^th

UP NEXT
The Anteaters return to the Bren Events Center for two contests next week, the first against Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m. on Thursday Jan. 16.