Anteaters Selected For ESPN2 Game Feb. 28 At The Bren Center
February 08, 2026 | Men's Basketball
IRVINE, Calif. โ UC Irvine has been chosen for another ESPN2 wildcard game when the Anteaters face-off against UC Santa Barbara February 28 at 7:30 p.m. from the Bren Events Center. Note the time change to 7:30 p.m.
The rematch of Saturday's contest is the third nationally televised game for UC Irvine who shares the top of theย Big West standings with a 9-3 record.
The Anteaters,ย who entered the weekendย ranked No.ย 13ย in theย Feb. 2 edition of theย College Insider Mid-Major Madness Top 25, are one of the top defensive teams in the nation.ย Nationally, UC Irvine ranks thirdย in blocks per game (6.1), fourth in field goal percentage defense (37.8) and eighth in defensive rebounds per game (28.71).ย
Senior forwardย Kyle Evansย isย nation'sย leader in blocks withย 81ย totalย on the season and an average of 3.38ย per game. Evans alsoย contributesย 12.1ย pointsย and 8.4 rebounds per outing. Sophomore guardย Jurian Dixon, the reigning Big West Freshman of the Year, leads UC Irvine in scoring at 15.4 points per game followed by redshirt sophomore guardย Derin Saran at 11.2 points oer outing.ย ย
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The rematch of Saturday's contest is the third nationally televised game for UC Irvine who shares the top of theย Big West standings with a 9-3 record.
The Anteaters,ย who entered the weekendย ranked No.ย 13ย in theย Feb. 2 edition of theย College Insider Mid-Major Madness Top 25, are one of the top defensive teams in the nation.ย Nationally, UC Irvine ranks thirdย in blocks per game (6.1), fourth in field goal percentage defense (37.8) and eighth in defensive rebounds per game (28.71).ย
Senior forwardย Kyle Evansย isย nation'sย leader in blocks withย 81ย totalย on the season and an average of 3.38ย per game. Evans alsoย contributesย 12.1ย pointsย and 8.4 rebounds per outing. Sophomore guardย Jurian Dixon, the reigning Big West Freshman of the Year, leads UC Irvine in scoring at 15.4 points per game followed by redshirt sophomore guardย Derin Saran at 11.2 points oer outing.ย ย
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Players Mentioned
Friday, March 27
Thursday, March 26
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 06
