Saturday, November 7
Irvine, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
UC Irvine
vs
San José State
November 06, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Anteaters and Spartans meet at 7 p.m. in the Bren Events Center as both teams look to remain unbeaten
IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine men's basketball continues its season-opening homestand Saturday, Nov. 7, hosting San Jose State at 7 p.m. in the Bren Events Center. Both teams enter the non-conference matchup with 1-0 records following victories in their respective season openers.
The Anteaters opened their 17th season under head coach Russell Turner with a 92-66 victory over Chapman on Tuesday, Nov. 3. UC Irvine had six players score in double figures, led by Luke Isaak's 16 points, while Olivier Rioux recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Saturday's contest brings a San Jose State squad to Irvine that scored 95 points in its season opener, setting up an early test for the Anteaters against a high-scoring Spartan offense.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: San Jose State
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Tickets | ESPN+ | Live Stats
Location: Bren Events Center – Irvine, Calif.
Records: UC Irvine (1-0) | San Jose State (1-0)
ANTEATERS OPEN WITH BALANCED ATTACK
UC Irvine began the 2026-27 campaign with a balanced offensive performance against Chapman, placing six players in double figures and shooting 54.1 percent (33-61) from the field.
Luke Isaak provided a spark off the bench, leading all Anteaters with 16 points in just 15 minutes of action. Isaak connected on 4-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc, went 4-for-4 at the free throw line and added three steals in his collegiate debut.
Olivier Rioux made his first career start and recorded his first collegiate double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The center shot 6-for-9 from the floor and pulled down four offensive boards.
Tama Isaac and Josiah Johnson added 12 points apiece, while Nils Cooper and Jovan Jester Jr. each finished with 10. Isaac also dished out a team-high five assists and collected two steals, while Cooper contributed seven rebounds and four assists.
The Anteaters also made their presence felt defensively, with Nes Emeneke recording four blocks and seven rebounds in just 15 minutes off the bench.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
San Jose State enters Saturday's matchup at 1-0 following a 95-74 victory in its season opener. The Spartans shot 58.9 percent (33-56) from the field and 38.5 percent (10-26) from three-point range, while recording 24 assists on 33 made field goals.
Joey Chammaa led San Jose State with 27 points, connecting on 6-of-9 field goals, 3-of-4 three-pointers and all 12 of his free throw attempts. Chammaa also contributed 6 assists and 2 steals.
Mekhi Mason added 26 points, seven rebounds and two steals, hitting five three-pointers in the opener. Robert Vaihola anchored the interior with 13 points and 11 rebounds, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
The Spartans controlled the glass with a 43-22 rebounding advantage and scored 45 points in the first half before adding 50 in the second.
San Jose State also received contributions from KJ Martin Jr., who finished with eight points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench.
DEFENDING THE BREN
UC Irvine enters the season as the defending Big West regular-season champion after finishing 23-12 overall and 15-5 in conference play in 2025-26. The Anteaters advanced to the Big West Championship title game and earned a postseason berth in the NIT.
Under Turner, UC Irvine has established itself among the Big West's most consistent programs, capturing eight regular-season championships, earning ten postseason appearances and recording 11 seasons with at least 20 wins.
The Anteaters were selected as the Big West preseason favorites entering 2026-27 and will look to build momentum in front of their home crowd before continuing their non-conference schedule.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
UC Irvine remains at home to host Lincoln on Wednesday, Nov. 11, before traveling to Stanford for its first road contest of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The Anteaters opened their 17th season under head coach Russell Turner with a 92-66 victory over Chapman on Tuesday, Nov. 3. UC Irvine had six players score in double figures, led by Luke Isaak's 16 points, while Olivier Rioux recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Saturday's contest brings a San Jose State squad to Irvine that scored 95 points in its season opener, setting up an early test for the Anteaters against a high-scoring Spartan offense.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: San Jose State
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Tickets | ESPN+ | Live Stats
Location: Bren Events Center – Irvine, Calif.
Records: UC Irvine (1-0) | San Jose State (1-0)
ANTEATERS OPEN WITH BALANCED ATTACK
UC Irvine began the 2026-27 campaign with a balanced offensive performance against Chapman, placing six players in double figures and shooting 54.1 percent (33-61) from the field.
Luke Isaak provided a spark off the bench, leading all Anteaters with 16 points in just 15 minutes of action. Isaak connected on 4-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc, went 4-for-4 at the free throw line and added three steals in his collegiate debut.
Olivier Rioux made his first career start and recorded his first collegiate double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The center shot 6-for-9 from the floor and pulled down four offensive boards.
Tama Isaac and Josiah Johnson added 12 points apiece, while Nils Cooper and Jovan Jester Jr. each finished with 10. Isaac also dished out a team-high five assists and collected two steals, while Cooper contributed seven rebounds and four assists.
The Anteaters also made their presence felt defensively, with Nes Emeneke recording four blocks and seven rebounds in just 15 minutes off the bench.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
San Jose State enters Saturday's matchup at 1-0 following a 95-74 victory in its season opener. The Spartans shot 58.9 percent (33-56) from the field and 38.5 percent (10-26) from three-point range, while recording 24 assists on 33 made field goals.
Joey Chammaa led San Jose State with 27 points, connecting on 6-of-9 field goals, 3-of-4 three-pointers and all 12 of his free throw attempts. Chammaa also contributed 6 assists and 2 steals.
Mekhi Mason added 26 points, seven rebounds and two steals, hitting five three-pointers in the opener. Robert Vaihola anchored the interior with 13 points and 11 rebounds, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
The Spartans controlled the glass with a 43-22 rebounding advantage and scored 45 points in the first half before adding 50 in the second.
San Jose State also received contributions from KJ Martin Jr., who finished with eight points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench.
DEFENDING THE BREN
UC Irvine enters the season as the defending Big West regular-season champion after finishing 23-12 overall and 15-5 in conference play in 2025-26. The Anteaters advanced to the Big West Championship title game and earned a postseason berth in the NIT.
Under Turner, UC Irvine has established itself among the Big West's most consistent programs, capturing eight regular-season championships, earning ten postseason appearances and recording 11 seasons with at least 20 wins.
The Anteaters were selected as the Big West preseason favorites entering 2026-27 and will look to build momentum in front of their home crowd before continuing their non-conference schedule.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UC Irvine defeated Chapman 92-66 in its season opener, outscoring the Panthers 54-40 in the second half.
- The Anteaters dominated the boards, outrebounding Chapman 56-30, including a 16-11 advantage on the offensive glass.
- UCI held Chapman to 33.8 percent shooting from the field while recording seven blocks.
- Saturday features two teams coming off season-opening wins by at least 20 points, with UC Irvine winning by 26 and San Jose State by 21.
UC Irvine remains at home to host Lincoln on Wednesday, Nov. 11, before traveling to Stanford for its first road contest of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Players Mentioned
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