CANCUN, Mexico – UC Irvine closed out the Cancun Challenge with a 64-52 victory over South Dakota State Wednesday at the Hard Rock Cancun Riviera Maya.

The Anteaters had five players in double-digit points led by guard Jurian Dixon's 13 followed by Andre Henry's season-high 11 points. Henry knocked down three three-pointers and had two rebounds and two steals, while Dixon pulled down four rebounds and had two assists and a steal.

Forward Kyle Evans was named Player of the Game after a double-double performance with 10 points and a game and season-high 10 rebounds. He had two assists and a blocked shot.

Elijah Chol and Tama Isaac each added 10 points, a career-tying total for Chol. The big man grabbed seven rebounds and had a blocked shot. Isaac, who scored seven of his points from the free throw line, had four rebounds and two steals.

Guard Derin Saran was named to the All-Tournament Team, totaling six points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals versus the Jackrabbits.

FORWARD KYLE EVANS SAID:
"It was a good bounce back game for us. We wanted this game badly and wanted to leave Cancun with a win. I thought we moved the ball well today, making one or two more passes. Offensively we took a big step tonight and I think it showed."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>UC Irvine shot 38.8% from the floor and had its best night from the line, hitting 21-28 (75.0%). UCI went 20-24 from the stripe in the second half
>The Anteaters, who even their record at 4-4, out-rebounded SDSU 42-33
>Forward Harrison Carrington added four points and four rebounds
>Trey Buchanan had a team-best 12 points for South Dakota State who shot 31.7% from the field (19-60) and 58.8% (10-17) from the line. The Jackrabbits are also 4-4 on the year

FIRST HALF
>Derin Saran and Kyle Evans had layups to give UCI the quick 4-0 lead (18:41)
>Elijah Chol gave UCI a 6-2 lead before the Jackrabbits scored eight in a row to move in front 10-6 (14:12)
>Tama Isaac and Andre Henry drained a threes to put the Anteaters on top 17-11(9:51)
>A 7-3 run by SDSU inched the Jackrabbits to 18-20 (5:23)
>UCI would close out the half on a 7-2 spurt that started at 2:49 on a layup and free throw from Chol and jumpers by Saran and Jurian Dixon, to give UCI the 29-22 lead at the half

SECOND HALF
>A layup and two free throws by Evans, a Henry jumper and a basket down low helped UCI  to a 39-24 lead with 10:43 to play
>Evans would have a thundering two-hand dunk to start an 11-6 run then after four consecutive free throws to by Isaac and two by Harrison Carrington, Evans added two more from the stripe and Henry knocked down a three-pointer to give the Anteaters their largest lead, 52-36 (5:15)
>UCI held a 58-43 lead with 1:39 to go before South Dakota State scored six unanswered to close within 49-58 (1:09)
>Dixon recorded a pair of free throws before a Jackrabbit three kept it interesting with 46 seconds left, but that would be their last basket as UCI closed out the game with two free throws from Dixon and Isaac, 64-52

NOTES
>UCI had six blocks, all from different players (Evans, Chol, Isaac, Jester Jr., Emeneke, Henry)
>Evans has recorded at least one block in each game this season

UP NEXT
UCI will travel north to face San Jose State Sunday (Nov. 30) for a 2:00 p.m. tip.