EL PASO, Texas – Kyle Evans poured in a career-high 24 points to lead UC Irvine to a 74-73 victory over North Dakota State in the first game of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Sunday at the Don Haskins Center.

Evans went 11-12 from the floor and 2-2 from the line for his career-best, while pulling down a game-high nine rebounds. His 11 made field goals is tied for second most by a Big West player this season. One of the country's best shot blockers rejected three balls and had three assists and a steal in the win.

North Dakota State went 7-12 from three-point distance in the second half, knocking down a trey with 1:31 remaining to take a 73-72 lead. Evans answered with a basket in the paint to move UCI back in front with 57 seconds left. In a wild finish, NDSU would miss five shots while UCI could not convert on two free throws resulting in the Bison having one last shot that also missed the mark, giving the Anteaters the one-point victory.

The Anteaters shot 50 percent from the floor (29-58) for the game, going 14-25 (56.0%) in the second half.

UCI improves to 8-5 overall and will meet Norfolk State in the Championship tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. PT

COACH RUSSELL TURNER SAID:
"It was a really good college basketball game between two quality mid-major teams and I feel fortunate that we came out on top. Our readiness showed up in the first half and our defensive level was really good after we settled into the game. We built enough of a lead and made enough plays to hang on, barely, and that's because of the quality North Dakota State's team and the competitive level that they brought. We are excited to be here and excited to play tomorrow in the title game of this tournament that is meaningful to us."

"By winning tonight we have a chance to win a championship.This is a meaningful opportunity for us and what we want to grow into this season and beyond.We have tremendous respect for UTEP and Norfolk State who are playing now. Both teams are hungry and we will have to recover quickly and be at our best in order to win tomorrow."

SENIOR FORWARD KYLE EVANS:
"I have to give all the credit to my teammates. I work on being in the right spot at the right time and they delivered it at the right time so it was just up to me to finish. I thought our gameplan worked out well, stretching the big guys out away from the basket and making plays at the rim."

REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE JURIAN DIXON SAID:
"We are going to enjoy the win, but we have to get over it quick. Our team has been growing from our experiences so the next thing is to not get to high or too low and move on to the next one tomorrow."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Guard Jurian Dixon added 16 points, including two three-pointers to go with three assists
>Guard Derin Saran totaled nine points and five assists
>Guard Jovan Jester Jr. went 3-4 from the field with two three-pointers for eight points. He had a career-high six steals
>Center Elijah Chol grabbed eight rebounds and totaled five points
>Guard Tama Isaac fired six assists, while forward Harrison Carrington had five points and three rebounds
>North Dakota State (10-4) was led by Markhi Strickland and Damari Wheeler-Thomas with 14 points each
>NDSU shot 46.6% (27-58) from the field  and 11-25 from three (11-25), but went 47.1% (8-17) from the free throw line.

FIRST HALF
>UC Irvine's offense generated scores early on the back of Kyle Evans who scored six early points to keep the Anteaters even with North Dakota State at 9-9 headed into the first timeout
>NDSU went on a 7-0 run over a three-minute span until a Jurian Dixon floater in transition, followed by another score transition on the next play, 13-14 (12:47)
>The Anteaters got a big spark from Jovan Jester Jr., who hit two straight threes before getting a layup to go, capping off a personal 8-0 run and  giving UCI a 21-16 lead (10:35)
>Derin Saran ripped off five straight points, hitting a three and putting in a reverse layup to give UCI a 34-28 advantage with just under five minutes to go in the half
>A pair of free throw by Andre Henry and a layup by Tama Isaac closedout the scoring with UCI leading 40-33 at the break

SECOND HALF
>A Saran layup and a three-pointer that was followed by a transition bucket from Dixon got the Anteaters out to a fast start in the second half, helping the Anteaters build a 47-36 lead (17:58)
>A highlight from Isaac, with the freshman point guard finding Evans cross-court for a one handed slam in transition, 50-41 (16:19)
>NDSU slowed the UCI momentum with a 9-1 run to cut the lead to just one, but an Andre Henry jumper got the Anteaters back on the board after a short scoring drought (11:59)
>A Bison three-pointer tied the game at 60 with just under seven minutes to go in regulation
>Evans got back-to-back buckets to go inside to retake a 68-66 lead (4:08)
>NDSU tied it at 70 and with just over two minutes to go, Saran got a jumper to go from the right corner to put the Anteaters ahead
>A NDSU three gave the Bison the 73-72 lead (1:31), but Evans hit a floater to give UCI a 74-73 advantage
>After a late UCI turnover, the Anteaters walled up in transition, resulting in an Evans block. Despite a pair of missed free throws on the ensuing possessions by UC Irvine, the Anteater defense stood strong to close a 74-73 victory  

NOTES
>UCI will make its third appearance in the championship game, winning in the title in 2015 against Norfolk State and losing to UTEP, 61-67, the last time at the event in 2019
>Evans' 24 points is tied for second most by an Anteater this season
>UCI has shot over 50% from the field three times this season