UC Irvine
Université du Québec à Montréal
Anteaters Roll Past UQAM, 101-70, In Canadian Exhibition
October 10, 2026 | Men's Basketball
UC Irvine places five players in double figures, led by Josiah Johnson's 13 points, in preseason opener
MONTREAL, Quebec - UC Irvine men's basketball opened its 2026-27 campaign with a commanding 101-70 exhibition victory over Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Saturday afternoon in Canada.
The Anteaters showcased their depth and balanced offensive attack, placing five players in double figures while shooting 51.5 percent (34-66) from the field and 40.9 percent (9-22) from three-point range.
Josiah Johnson led UC Irvine with 13 points and six assists, while Olivier Rioux recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Jovan Jester Jr., Torian Lee and Luke Isaak added 10 points apiece.
Tama Isaac directed the offense with a game-high eight assists to go along with seven points, while Nils Cooper contributed six rebounds, four points and two steals.
UQAM took an early 9-5 lead before UC Irvine settled into its offense. Johnson knocked down a three-pointer to put the Anteaters back in front, 10-9, midway through the opening period. After the teams traded baskets, Luke Isaak connected from beyond the arc to give UCI a 14-11 advantage. Johnson followed with a layup, and Isaak buried another three-pointer with nine seconds remaining to send the Anteaters into the second quarter leading 22-15.
UC Irvine continued to build its advantage in the second period. Isaac connected from long range before Cooper threw down a dunk off a Harrison Carrington assist, pushing the lead to 32-21. The Anteaters stretched the margin to 13 points following a layup from Bryce Goldman and another basket by Johnson, but UQAM responded late in the quarter to cut the deficit to 45-37 at halftime.
The Anteaters came out of the break with renewed energy, opening the third quarter with a Jester Jr. three-pointer. Rioux followed with a dunk off a Jester Jr. assist, and Ben Egbo added a layup to extend the lead to 52-41.
UCI's defensive pressure fueled another surge late in the period. Carrington and Lee converted consecutive baskets following UQAM turnovers, while Lee added another layup after collecting a steal. The Anteaters closed the quarter with a three-pointer from Lee to take a commanding 71-51 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
UC Irvine maintained control in the fourth quarter, continuing to find production throughout its lineup. Rioux added six points in the period, while the Anteaters collectively scored 30 in the final frame to push the margin past 30 points and close out the 101-70 victory.
The Anteaters dominated the glass with a 52-26 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive boards, and outscored UQAM 38-20 in the paint.
Defensively, UC Irvine limited UQAM to 34.9 percent shooting, collected 15 steals and forced 19 turnovers, converting those opportunities into 27 points.
