UCI players and coaches get excited as Anteaters notch an upset victory over Kansas State in Friday’s NCAA Tournament game (Photos Duke Burchell, Courtesy UCI Athletic Communications).
UC Irvine men’s basketball fans everywhere are celebrating tonight after the biggest victory in school history.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
The 13th-seeded Anteaters upset No. 4 seed Kansas State 70-64 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at SAP Center in San Jose Friday in front of a national television audience on TBS.
It’s the first NCAA Tournament victory for UCI, which was making its second appearance in the Big Dance. The Anteaters (31-5) extended their school record winning streak with their 17th straight win and advance to the round of 32 Sunday at 6:40 p.m. against No. 12 Oregon. The game will be televised by TBS.
Max Hazzard and Evan Leonard led UCI with 19 points each. Hazzard had five 3-pointers while Leonard had a team high six rebounds and four steals.
Leonard made 9-for-9 at the free throw line and established a UCI record for most consecutive free throws with 42 straight. The junior hit two free throws at 12:25 of the second half to better the previous record of 34 set by Johnny Rogers (1984-85).
Elston Jones had 11 points and five rebounds and Robert Cartwright added 10 points and three assists for UCI.
UCI out-scored Kansas State in the paint (24-14) and off the bench (19-9).
The Anteaters’ defense was tough all game, holding Wildcats to just 37.3 percent shooting from the floor and 29.6 percent shooting from long range
UCI made shot 44 percent of its field goals overall and 39.1 percent from 3-point range.
Kamau Stokes led Kansas State (25-9) with 18 points followed by Makol Mawlen with 14 points and game-high 12 rebounds.
UCI was able to rally from a 17-9 deficit with about eight minutes left in the first half and came back to tie the game 30-30.
That set up a strong second half performance and finish by UCI, the Big West Conference regular season champion and Big West Tournament champion.
Here’s what Coach Russell Turner and Evan Leonard said after the game:
UC IRVINE HEAD COACH RUSSELL TURNER:
“As an opening statement, there’s not much to say other than I’m incredibly proud of these guys up here on the dais with me but of each guy as a part of our team to reach this point in the tournament. We came into the game confident with belief that we could win, and I think that belief showed throughout the game, especially when we were down early, and we settled in. We made some defensive adjustments and changes and made the plays to come out on top”
EVAN LEONARD ON THE CROWD FEELING LIKE A HOME GAME:
“That was definitely one of the things I noticed right off the bat, you know, the noise. I don’t think I’ve ever been in an arena that was that loud. So at times it kind of made it hard, but, you know, like you said, it definitely felt like a home game, and a lot of our fans traveled with us. So we appreciate that so much.”
RELATED: More on the Anteaters and a loyal fan
-Information courtesy UCI Athletic Communications
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