IRVINE, Calif. -- No. 1 seeded UC Irvine will host the program's first ever NIT game on Wednesday Mar. 19 when they take on Northern Colorado inside the Bren Events Center.

Northern Colorado at [1] UC Irvine
Wednesday, Mar. 19 | 7:00 p.m. PT
Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
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ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO
> Northern Colorado enters the contest with an 29-4 overall record
> The Bears were winners of six straight games before falling to Montana in the Big Sky championship game (L, 91-83)
> In the Big Sky, UNC walked away with the league's regular season title behind a 15-3 record
>  The Bears finished their non-conference schedule with a 10-6 record, 2-4 on the road and 3-1 at neutral site locations
> Northern Colorado has four players averaging double figures
> Isaiah Hawthorne leads the way with 17.4 points per game  while making and taking the most three-pointers on the squad (65-164, 0.396)
> Hawthorne is shooting almost 50 percent from the floor overall (190-383, 0.496) and leads the Bears with 39 steals, is second with 14 blocks, and is third with 5.3 rebounds per game
> Langston Reynolds puts up 16 points per contest and connects 60.3 percent of his shots from the field (205-340) and leads the team with 5.7 grabs off the glass
> Reynolds holds the team lead in blocks (17) and is second in assists (112)
> Both Hawthorne and Reynolds have over 150 shots from the free throw line going 130-158 (0.823) and 102-151 (0.675) respectively
> Jaron Rillie comes up with 12.1 points per game behind a UNC best 158 assists (4.4 per game) and is second with 5.6 rebounds per game
> Rillie shoots at 49/39/83 rates per category
> Brock Wisne rounds out the double figure scoring with 10.2 points per game while shooting at a hot 62 percent (145-234) from the floor and is third on the team with 11 blocks
> Zach Bloch supports in the starting lineup with 38 percent scoring from the field overall (65-173, 0.376) and 37 percent scoring from three-point range (57-156, 0.365)

UC IRVINE POSTSEASON HISTORY IN THE NIT
UC Irvine clinched their ninth postseason appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) as an automatic bid and their first ever No. 1 seed ranking for the Irvine Region. The Anteaters hold a 2-8 record in the tournament. UCI makes their third consecutive appearance in the postseason invitational and it is the first time where they are making three straight trips.

ALL BIG WEST SELECTIONS
UC Irvine's starting five of Jurian Dixon, Bent Leuchten, Devin Tillis, Justin Hohn, and Myles Che each received All-Big West honors, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon. Dixon headlined the awards as he was named the Big West's Freshman of the Year, just the seventh player in program history to win the award and first since Dawson Baker in 2021. Leuchten followed with his first career postseason award as he was named to the six man All-Big West First Team. Tillis earned a spot on the  All-Big West Second Team for his first career postseason award. Hohn and Che were selected as All-Big West Honorable Mentions to round out the Anteater accolades.

LEUCHTEN; TILLIS RECOGNIZED BY NABC
UC Irvine senior center Bent Leuchten and redshirt senior forward Devin Tillis were honored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) for the 2024-25 season. Leuchten was named to the Pacific District First Team while Tillis placed on the Second Team. The All-District honors are voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I. This is both Leuchten's and Tillis' fourth postseason honor of the year.

MID-MAJOR POLL POSITION
The Anteaters ranks ninth in the College Insider Mid-Major poll, with their 520 total points. The Anteaters have been top 10 in the poll for 19 straight weeks this season.

VETERAN TALENT: CAREER GAMES PLAYED IN THE BIG WEST 
In his fifth season on the court and sixth overall with the UC Irvine squad, guard Justin Hohn has played 147 career games, holding the  third spot in the ladder. Hohn is looking to finish in second behind graduate student Ofure Ujadughele's top mark of 154 games.

HOT SHOTS
Entering Wednesday's contest, Northern Colorado is the nation's top field goal percentage team at 51.1 percent shooting from the floor at an effective 0.584 clip, good for third nationally. The Bears' Langston Reynolds ranks 13th nationally with his 60.3 conversion rate from the floor. UNC will go up against the nation's tenth-nest field goal percentage (39.6) team in UC Irvine.

DEFEND THE THREE
UC Irvine, the Big West's third-best three-point defending team at a 0.336 clip, will need to clamp down on beyond the arc defense as the Bears enter the game on Wednesday with the nation's 23rd best three-point percentage at 37.6. Despite that, Northern Colorado is only 100th in three-pointers per game (8.4) and 192nd in three-point attempts per game (22.3).

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE
The Anteaters have been sharp at the free throw line this season with 577 makes in 716 attempts and leads the Big West in free throw percentage (0.806) which is also the nation's second best shooting clip at the line. UC Irvine went a perfect 13-13 at the charity stripe on Mar. 15 versus UC San Diego, their third time doing so this season (13-13 at Long Beach State on Jan. 30 and 14-14 vs. Pepperdine on Nov. 16).  UCI shot a season high 33-40 from the charity stripe on Dec. 5 in the win over Cal State Bakersfield. Additionally, UC Irvine has played 19 games where opponents to just single digit makes from the line, the last versus UC San Diego (Mar. 15). In the national standings, Bent Leuchten ranks seventh in made free throws (190) and 14th in free throw attempts (231) while Myles Che is 31st in free throw percentage (0.885). 

SHARING THE BALL WELL
UC Irvine dished out 26 assists on 34 made baskets in the win over Cal Poly (Mar. 14). It is just the sixth time this season where the Anteaters have dished out 20 or more assists in a game. The 'Eaters had their best assist rate game against CSUN on Feb. 20 with 86.4 percent of their baskets assisted (19-22). UCI is second in the Big West in both assists per game (15.88) and in conference games (16.00). Justin Hohn and Myles Che are the top distributors for the 'Eaters, combining to give UCI a 20-4 record when either one of them dishes out four or more assists a game (Hohn 11-4, Che 9-0). 

EFFICIENCY IN IRVINE
Bent Leuchten is one the Big West's most efficient player with a 29.6 grade, sitting second. Leuchten ranks first in offensive rating (132.0). The center also ranks second in defensive rating (90.2), offensive box plus/minus (6.6), and overall box plus/minus (9.5) while sitting fifth in defensive box/plus minus (2.9).

SINGLE SEASON REBOUNDING HEIGHTS
Senior Bent Leuchten has added another milestone onto his season as an Anteater with his 12 rebounds at UC Davis. Entering Wednesday's contest, Leuchten has 307 season rebounds which jumps all the way to third in the all-time single season rebounding ladder. The center is 30 boards away from matching Kevin Magee (337, 1980-81) for second. It is the first time in 43 years that an Anteater had 300 or more rebounds in a season (last was 353 in 1981-82).

CHASING 1K
Redshirt senior Devin Tillis enters Wednesday's contest with 994 career points, six tallies away from the achievement in his UCI career, would become the 35th Anteater to accomplish this feat in a UC Irvine uniform, the third of the season to join guard Justin Hohn and center Bent Leuchten on the list. On Feb. 22 at Cal State Bakersfield, Tillis reached the 1,000 career scorers milestone, recording 1,082 tallies between his time at UNLV and UCI.

UC IRVINE FALLS TO UC SAN DIEGO IN BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
UC Irvine fell to UC San Diego in the Big West Championship, 75-61, at the Lee's Family Forum Saturday evening. After leading 33-31 at the half, UCI was outscored 44-28 in the second half, watching the Tritons shoot 55.6 percent (15-27) from the floor to the Anteaters' 32.1 percent (9-28). Guard Justin Hohn led UCI with 18 points, knocking down a career-high tying four three-pointers. He was 5-14 from the floor and 4-4 from the line. The graduate student grabbed five rebounds and had two steals. Forward Devin Tillis and center Bent Leuchten were named to the All-Tournament team. Tillis went 4-8 from the floor and 2-2 from the line for 12 points and had a career-high eight assists, while Leuchten added 10 points and matched Tillis for a team-best seven rebounds.

THIS JUST-IN!
Justin Hohn is a UC Irvine squad leader with 393 total points and 11.9 points per game scoring. The graduate student has 63 double figure scoring games in his career, the most of any player on the Anteater squad, Hohn reached 1,300 career points in his 18-point outing versus UC San Diego on Mar. 15. The guard leads the Anteaters in both assists (122) and steals (48).

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Devin Tillis is a threat both on offense and defense for the Anteaters. The forward coverts at a high rate from the floor (165-309, 0.534) and has 22 double digit scoring games on the season. Additionally, Tillis is second on the squad in rebounds with 250 total (7.6 rpg). Tillis is second on the team with 11 career double-doubles, posting his fifth of the season versus Hawai'i on Jan. 25 (11 pts, 13 rebs).

THE GERMAN PAINTER
Bent Leuchten dominates at the post or in the paint whether it is scoring baskets or grabbing the ball off the glass. The center is the team's leader off the glass, averaging 9.0 rebounds a game in 34 contests played, and paces the scoring at 15.4 points per game. Leuchten has posted double-figure scoring games in 28 games this year, the latest versus UC San Diego (Mar. 15) where he put up 10 points. The German has scored at least 10 or more points or pulled down at least 10 or more rebounds in 29 of those contests. Additionally, Leuchten's career best 15 grabs off the glass against Pepperdine and reset against Belmont are an Anteater first in the 15-19 rebounds in a game category since Collin Welp pulled down 19 on the road at LMU on Dec. 17, 2020. The center is just one of seven players who have eight or more 20 point, 10 rebound efforts this season. 

CHE-SANITY
At the top of the formation for the Anteaters, Myles Che helps lead the distribution effort with his 89 total assists. Che adds to the scoring effort with his 12.3 points per game and recorded his first double digit scoring game in an Anteater uniform at Northern Iowa on Nov. 10 with his ten points. The guard had his 21st double figure scoring effort of the season, 10 points in the Big West semifinals against Cal Poly (Mar. 14), after seeing his 13-game double figure scoring streak ended on Feb. 15. 

FITTING RIGHT IN
Redshirt freshman guard Jurian Dixon entered the UC Irvine starting lineup on Dec. 14 at Oregon State and has proved himself on both the offensive and defensive ends. The guard averages 8.7 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game in 34 contests. Dixon continues to have career performances or break through nights, his latest at UC Santa Barbara (Mar. 8) with personal bests in points (23) and made free throws (9). 

SWAT TEAM
Junior transfer Kyle Evans registered multiple blocks in three straight contests (Nov. 29-Dec. 5) and saw his six-game block streak (Jan. 11-Jan. 30) come to an end, totaling 42 over 34 contests. His 42 swats at the rim rank fifth in the Big West. The forward had several career performances in a few games span with his latest on Jan. 25 versus Hawai'i where he matched his career high 12 points on perfect 6-6 shooting from the floor and tied his career best four blocks.

BRICK WALL
The big men down low of Bent Leuchten, Kyle Evans, and Elijah Chol pose a threat in the defensive paint for opponents. The three trio combine to average 9.6 defensive rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. All three big men have double figure blocks on the season: Leuchten (44), Evans (42), and Chol (17). In conference contests, the trio average 9.9 defensive rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.

OLD RELIABLE
With a veteran team that has won multiple championships in the last few seasons, three UC Irvine veteran starters are averaging double figures. Bent Leuchten leads the way with 15.4, Devin Tillis behind at 13.2, and Justin Hohn next at 11.9. While not a veteran who has played their whole career at UC Irvine, Myles Che is the fourth player on the team to average double digits with 12.3 points.

1,000-POINT CLUB
Graduate student Justin Hohn etched his name into the UC Irvine record book as the 33rd Anteater to eclipse the 1,000-point mark. The guard reached this milestone in the victory over Towson (Nov. 30) and has 1,310 career tallies. Hohn begins his ascent in the ranks and is 11 points away from passing Adam Parada (1,320--2000-04) for 12th, 15 from going in front of Alex Young (1,324--2012-16) for 11th, and needs 74 to match Will Davis II (1,384--2011-15) for 10th. Additionally, senior Bent Leuchten etched his name into the UC Irvine record book as the 34th Anteater to eclipse the 1,000-point mark. The center reached this milestone in the game against CSUN (Feb. 20) and has 1,106 career tallies. Leuchten begins his ascent in the ranks, sitting at 29th, and is 31 points away from surpassing Patrick Sanders (1,136--2004-08) for 28th.

500-REBOUND MACHINES 
Redshirt senior Devin Tillis put his name into the UC Irvine record book as the 28th Anteater to reach the 500-rebound achievement. The forward reached this milestone in the win at California Baptist (Dec. 30) and has 657 career boards. Tillis continues his ascent in the ranks and 14th in the all-time rebounding list, just 13 from meeting Ben McDonald (670, 1980-84) for 13th. Additionally, senior Bent Leuchten became the 29th Anteater to pull down 500 rebounds in their UCI career. The center accomplished this feat at UC Riverside (Jan. 23) and has 631 career rebounds. Leuchten lands 15th and is 26 boards away from chasing down Tillis for 14th.

STEALING THE LEAD
Guard Justin Hohn entered the top 10 in the program for steals with five takeaways at Cal Poly (Jan. 2). He ranks tied fifth with Luke Nelson (145, 2013-17) with 145 in his career and needs 10 more in order to move in front of Alex Young (154, 2012-16) for fourth.

THREE-POINT SNIPER
Justin Hohn placed his name in the record book for the third time this season, entering the top 10 in career made three-pointers made with his three triples against Hawai'i (Jan. 25). He is sixth with 196. Hohn needs five more three-pointers to reach Jeff Herdman (201, 1987-91) for fifth.

PUT IT IN THE PAINT
UCI has outscored their opponents by 242 points when scoring in the paint (UCI 1,132, Opp. 890). The Anteaters average 33.7 points in the paint per game and have scored 40 or more points in ten games so far (Chapman--42, at Northern Iowa--48, at Weber State--44, Kennesaw State--44, at Belmont--42, at California Baptist--46, at Cal Poly--42, Cal Poly--46, UC Santa Barbara--40, at UC Santa Barbara--50).

HIGHLY EFFICIENT SHOOTING
UCI has shot over a 0.500 clip in 11 contests this season (at Northern Iowa--0.550, at Weber State--0.508, versus Kennesaw State--0.516, versus Towson--0.522, at Belmont--0.525, at California Baptist--0.500, versus Cal Poly--0.531, at Cal State Fullerton--0.500, at UC Davis--0.588, at UC Santa Barbara--0.567, and against Cal Poly--0.557). 

KENPOM LEADERS
Out of 2309 eligible players, Bent Leuchten is ninth in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (7.2), ninth in free throw rate (78.7), 24th in defensive rebound percentage (26.2), and 31st in true shooting percentage (65.3). Out of 364 teams, UC Irvine ranks second in two-point percentage defense (43.3), second in free throw percentage offense (81.0), fourth in free throw attempt/field goal attempt defense (21.9), 13th in block percentage offense (6.9), 16th in effective field goal percentage defense (46.2), 18th in adjusted efficiency defense (95.1), 18th in assists per field goals made (61.1), 27th in average possession length defense (16.8), 27th in offensive rebound percentage defense (25.9), and 38th in free throw offense (22.1). 

LEADING THE BIG WEST
Several Anteaters sit in the top ten of the Big West individual statistical rankings: scoring (9th, 15.4--Leuchten), rebounding (2nd, 9.0--Leuchten and 3rd, 7.6--Tillis), field goal percentage (4th, 0.548--Leuchten and 5th, 0.534--Tillis), free throw percentage (2nd, 0.885--Che and 6th, 0.823--Leuchten), assists (6th, 3.7--Hohn), blocks (2nd, 1.3--Leuchten and 5th, 1.2--Evans), and steals (9th, 1.5--Hohn). 

NATIONAL STATISTICS THROUGH 03.16.25
UC Irvine is ranked top 50 nationally in free throw percentage (2nd, 80.6), defensive rebounds per game (5th, 28.82), field goal percentage defense (10th, 39.6), free throws made per game (20th, 17.0), scoring margin (29th, 9.7), scoring defense (37th, 66.2), assists per game (46th, 15.9), rebounds per game (46th, 38.15), and rebound margin (49th, 4.5).

NET WORTH
The first NET ranking of the season was released on Monday Dec. 2. The 'Eaters are the second highest ranked team in the Big West. UC San Diego tops the league at a 35 rank with the Anteaters next at 62.