IRVINE, Calif. – Several career performances along with a strong defensive effort bolstered UC Irvine's 71-55 victory over Hawai'i inside the Bren Events Center Saturday evening.
 
Guard Myles Che led the Anteater scoring effort with a game-high 17 points where he shot 50 percent from the field (5-10) and 83 percent from the charity stripe (5-6). Che scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half, including two three-pointers, to go along with five assists.
 
Forward Kyle Evans was a spark off the bench for UCI, scoring 12 of the team's 16 bench points. Evans matched his career-high 12 in scoring on perfect 6-6 shooting from the floor while blocking a new personal best four shots.
 
Forward Devin Tillis posted his second consecutive double-double behind an 11 point, 13 rebound showing. His grabs at the rim are a new career-best along with his four assists.

The Anteaters won their 21st consecutive game at home, improving to 18-3 overall, 8-1 in the Big West.

FROM HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER
"I liked the level we were at since the jump ball. We started 11-0 and really set the tone of the level we wanted to compete and defend at. It was the really high, competitive level I had asked for. I thought we were all really disappointed that we couldn't compete at that level at UC Riverside. We were outplayed, but tonight we didn't do that. We let it get tight near the end. I thought we were lackadaisical, lost our focus, and turned it over on a couple of great possessions. Because we have belief, I think we let that belief turn into sloppiness which is human nature. I know that all of these veterans have belief that we can turn it on but having that belief can create bad habits which let teams make those runs on us. I was really impressed with Kyle Evans and the level he played at in the second half. He and Myles Che have been impactful and outstanding fits for us. I am thankful for them for choosing to come here."
 
FROM KYLE EVANS
"Protecting the rim is something I really take pride in and making an impact on defense. At the end of the day, if I can do well at that end, I think I will be rewarded on the other. I am not the strongest guy, so I just try and beat them earlier and lower. I am always just trying to be in a good spot. I like to try and be in places to help get my teammates open and tonight I just happened to be in the right spot."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Justin Hohn finished in double digits with 13 points, making three shots from three-point range
> Hohn matched the game-high in assists (five) and steals (two)
> Bent Leuchten had a perfect night from the field (3-3) and the charity stripe (2-2) to end with eight points and eight rebounds
> Leuchten dished out three assists in 21 minutes to reset his season-high
> 22 of UC Irvine's 27 field goals were assisted
> UCI slightly edged out UH in the rebounding battle, 42-40
> The Anteaters held the Rainbow Warriors to 55 points, marking the ninth time this season UCI has held an opponent to 60 points or fewer
> 52 percent of UH's scoring came from the bench
> Hawaii was led by Akira Jacobs' 12 points, with two triples, five rebounds, and three assists
 
FIRST HALF
> UC Irvine presented strong offense for two straight minutes as Justin Hohn (18:55) went for the baseline drive, Jurian Dixon (18:24) aggressively got up to the hoop, Devin Tillis (17:18) knocked down the three-pointer, and Bent Leuchten (16:45) walked down the defense for a hook shot, forcing Hawai'i to call a timeout, 9-0
> The Rainbow Warriors saw the three-ball go in at 14:50 before Hohn responded with a triple of his own, 14-5 (14:32)
> Tillis corralled the offensive board and timed his rise to the hoop just right to give UCI their largest lead of the half at 9:07, 24-9
> UH countered with seven straight points, the last a trey, to draw within 24-16 (6:28)
> UCI was able to maintain a double figure lead four more times until the end of the half as Che's fall away shot bounced around the rim and fell in right as time ran out, 34-24
 
SECOND HALF
> Hawaii opened the half with a basket then a Tillis layup (18:15) to keep the 10-point advantage, 36-26
> Che followed with a step back trey at 18:15 and then dribbled around the defense to hit from long-range again at 15:44, 43-30
> The Rainbow Warriors became inspired, scoring ten in a row, including back-to-back three-pointers to draw withing four, 48-44 (10:15)
> UC Irvine responded to the pressure with an 11-2 run on consecutive triples from Hohn (9:54, 8:56), two free throws by Leuchten (8:23), one at the line from Dixon (8:02), and two from the stripe by Che (7:09) to extend the lead back to 59-44
> Kyle Evans was crafty in his shot, making an almost near impossible behind the backboard lay-in at 6:02 and then lofted the ball high off the glass for the score at 5:23, 63-49
> UH used free throws and a layup to bring it back to a threatening 10-point margin, 63-53, but the Anteaters got a spark from Tillis' lay-in, Che's two from the stipe, and one free throw from Tishan Ahir with 41 seconds left (68-53)
> Ofure Ujadughele sealed the 71-55 victory when he knocked down a three-pointer in front of the Anteater bench with nine seconds on the clock

NOTES
> UC Irvine has won the last seven contests in Irvine against Hawai'i
> Justin Hohn sits seventh in the career steals leader board with 128, needing 16 more to pass Evan Leonard (143, 2016-20) for sixth
> Hohn is the 25th all-time scorer in the program (1,168 points) now 40 points away from passing Chris McNealy (1,207, 2010-14) for 24th
> Devin Tillis now sits 20th in the all-time rebounding list with 570, just 15 behind Mark Nelson (585, 1965-67) for 19th and 16 back from both Nick Sanden (586, 1966-69) and Jeff Cunningham (586, 1967-70) for 18th
> Bent Leuchten is 26th in the rebounding standings with 513, needing six more to move in front of Chris McNealy (518, 2010-14) for 25th
> Myles Che recorded his ninth straight double figure scoring game, the longest of any Anteater this season
> It is the third time this season where both Che and Hohn were the team's assist leader

UP NEXT
UC Irvine travels up the 405 to face Black and Blue rival Long Beach State on Thursday Jan. 30. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.