Wednesday, November 11
Irvine, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
UC Irvine
vs
Lincoln University CA
November 10, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Anteaters look to remain unbeaten after 2-0 start; teams meet for second time following record-setting performance last season
IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine men's basketball closes its season-opening homestand Wednesday, Nov. 11, hosting Lincoln University at 7 p.m. in the Bren Events Center. The Anteaters (2-0) look to remain unbeaten following victories over Chapman and San José State to open the 2026-27 campaign.
UCI is coming off a 91-79 victory over San José State on Saturday, led by a career-high 24 points from Jovan Jester Jr. The Anteaters have averaged 91.5 points through their first two contests while establishing a commanding presence on the glass.
Wednesday marks the second meeting between the programs after UCI set multiple school and Bren Events Center records in a 130-63 victory over Lincoln last November.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Lincoln University (CA)
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Location: Bren Events Center – Irvine, Calif.
Tickets | ESPN+ | Live Stats
Radio: KLAA AM 830 / KUCI 88.9 FM
JESTER JR. LEADS UNBEATEN ANTEATERS
UC Irvine has opened the season with back-to-back victories, including a 91-79 win over San José State in its first Division I matchup of the year.
Jovan Jester Jr. has emerged as the Anteaters' leading scorer, averaging 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds through two games. The sophomore delivered a career-high 24 points against the Spartans, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line while adding eight rebounds and three assists.
Tama Isaac has directed the offense with 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and a team-high 6.5 assists per game. Isaac recorded 14 points and eight assists against San José State and enters Wednesday just three assists shy of 150 for his career.
Nils Cooper has provided another consistent scoring option, averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 64.3 percent from the field. The senior finished with 15 points and two steals against the Spartans, reaching double figures for the second consecutive game.
Freshman Josiah Johnson has also scored in double figures in both collegiate appearances, averaging 12.5 points per game.
ANTEATERS CONTROL THE GLASS
UC Irvine has established an imposing presence inside through its first two games, outrebounding opponents by a combined 102-54 margin.
Olivier Rioux leads the Anteaters with 9.5 rebounds per game after recording a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double against Chapman in his first collegiate start. The 7-foot-9 center followed with seven points and seven rebounds against San José State and is shooting 64.3 percent from the field.
Nes Emeneke has anchored UCI's interior defense with nine blocks through two contests. The freshman recorded four blocks against Chapman before tying his career high with five against San José State. Emeneke is averaging 8.0 rebounds per game and enters Wednesday one block shy of 40 for his career.
The Anteaters have collected 32 offensive rebounds through two games, creating additional scoring opportunities while limiting opponents on the glass.
RECORDS FALL IN LAST MEETING
UC Irvine delivered one of the most prolific offensive performances in program history when the Anteaters defeated Lincoln, 130-63, at the Bren Events Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
UCI established a school record with 40 assists and set school and Bren Events Center records with 59 made field goals. The Anteaters also set Bren Events Center marks with 88 field goal attempts and 71 second-half points.
The 130-point performance was UCI's highest scoring output since a school-record 135 points against Bethesda in 2020. The Anteaters shot 67.0 percent from the field and scored 106 points in the paint.
Harrison Carrington finished with a career-high 19 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting performance, while Emeneke recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Isaac added eight assists and Jester Jr. dished out nine as UCI recorded its first victory over Lincoln.
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine never trailed in its 91-79 victory over San José State on Saturday, opening the contest with 13 unanswered points and carrying a 51-31 advantage into halftime.
The Anteaters led by as many as 23 points and shot 52.4 percent from the field. Jester Jr. led four UCI players in double figures with 24 points, followed by Cooper with 15, Isaac with 14 and Johnson with 13.
UCI held a 46-24 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive boards, and outscored the Spartans 44-24 in the paint. Emeneke added five blocks and nine rebounds as the Anteaters secured their second consecutive victory.
SCOUTING LINCOLN
Lincoln enters Wednesday's matchup with a 1-0 record under third-year head coach William Middlebrook.
The Oakland-based program returns to the Bren Events Center for the second consecutive season after falling to UCI in last year's meeting. The Anteaters hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine heads to Stanford on Tuesday, Nov. 17 to kick off the Acrisure Series, for their first road contest of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Anteaters then travel to Palm Desert to continue the Acrisure Series, facing San Diego on Nov. 21 and Loyola Marymount on Nov. 22.
UCI is coming off a 91-79 victory over San José State on Saturday, led by a career-high 24 points from Jovan Jester Jr. The Anteaters have averaged 91.5 points through their first two contests while establishing a commanding presence on the glass.
Wednesday marks the second meeting between the programs after UCI set multiple school and Bren Events Center records in a 130-63 victory over Lincoln last November.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Lincoln University (CA)
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Location: Bren Events Center – Irvine, Calif.
Tickets | ESPN+ | Live Stats
Radio: KLAA AM 830 / KUCI 88.9 FM
JESTER JR. LEADS UNBEATEN ANTEATERS
UC Irvine has opened the season with back-to-back victories, including a 91-79 win over San José State in its first Division I matchup of the year.
Jovan Jester Jr. has emerged as the Anteaters' leading scorer, averaging 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds through two games. The sophomore delivered a career-high 24 points against the Spartans, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line while adding eight rebounds and three assists.
Tama Isaac has directed the offense with 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and a team-high 6.5 assists per game. Isaac recorded 14 points and eight assists against San José State and enters Wednesday just three assists shy of 150 for his career.
Nils Cooper has provided another consistent scoring option, averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 64.3 percent from the field. The senior finished with 15 points and two steals against the Spartans, reaching double figures for the second consecutive game.
Freshman Josiah Johnson has also scored in double figures in both collegiate appearances, averaging 12.5 points per game.
ANTEATERS CONTROL THE GLASS
UC Irvine has established an imposing presence inside through its first two games, outrebounding opponents by a combined 102-54 margin.
Olivier Rioux leads the Anteaters with 9.5 rebounds per game after recording a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double against Chapman in his first collegiate start. The 7-foot-9 center followed with seven points and seven rebounds against San José State and is shooting 64.3 percent from the field.
Nes Emeneke has anchored UCI's interior defense with nine blocks through two contests. The freshman recorded four blocks against Chapman before tying his career high with five against San José State. Emeneke is averaging 8.0 rebounds per game and enters Wednesday one block shy of 40 for his career.
The Anteaters have collected 32 offensive rebounds through two games, creating additional scoring opportunities while limiting opponents on the glass.
RECORDS FALL IN LAST MEETING
UC Irvine delivered one of the most prolific offensive performances in program history when the Anteaters defeated Lincoln, 130-63, at the Bren Events Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
UCI established a school record with 40 assists and set school and Bren Events Center records with 59 made field goals. The Anteaters also set Bren Events Center marks with 88 field goal attempts and 71 second-half points.
The 130-point performance was UCI's highest scoring output since a school-record 135 points against Bethesda in 2020. The Anteaters shot 67.0 percent from the field and scored 106 points in the paint.
Harrison Carrington finished with a career-high 19 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting performance, while Emeneke recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Isaac added eight assists and Jester Jr. dished out nine as UCI recorded its first victory over Lincoln.
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine never trailed in its 91-79 victory over San José State on Saturday, opening the contest with 13 unanswered points and carrying a 51-31 advantage into halftime.
The Anteaters led by as many as 23 points and shot 52.4 percent from the field. Jester Jr. led four UCI players in double figures with 24 points, followed by Cooper with 15, Isaac with 14 and Johnson with 13.
UCI held a 46-24 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive boards, and outscored the Spartans 44-24 in the paint. Emeneke added five blocks and nine rebounds as the Anteaters secured their second consecutive victory.
SCOUTING LINCOLN
Lincoln enters Wednesday's matchup with a 1-0 record under third-year head coach William Middlebrook.
The Oakland-based program returns to the Bren Events Center for the second consecutive season after falling to UCI in last year's meeting. The Anteaters hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine heads to Stanford on Tuesday, Nov. 17 to kick off the Acrisure Series, for their first road contest of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Anteaters then travel to Palm Desert to continue the Acrisure Series, facing San Diego on Nov. 21 and Loyola Marymount on Nov. 22.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballThursday, November 12
Monday, November 09
Sunday, November 08
Wednesday, November 04
