CHAMPIONS AGAIN! UCI captures 2nd consecutive Big West regular season title

Evan Leonard, shown in a home game, led UCI in scoring Thursday night. (Photo courtesy UCI Athletic Communicatons)

UC Irvine’s men’s basketball team won its second-straight Big West regular season title defeating Cal Poly 82-76 at Mott Athletics Center Thursday night.

The win marks the first time in program history that UCI won the regular season crown outright for two-consecutive years. The Anteaters have won at least a share of the title six times before. UCI’s seniors Evan Leonard, Eyassu Worku, Tommy Rutherford and John Edgar Jr. and redshirt junior Brad Greene have won three titles in four years.

The Anteaters got their 20^th win of the season, making it the seventh time in eight seasons and 11^th overall that UCI has earned 20 or more wins. The Anteaters improved their record to 20-10 overall and 12-2 in conference play.

Cal Poly dropped to 7-21 overall and 4-10 in Big West play.

Leonard finished with a season and game-high 22 points, going 4-of-7 from long range and 7-of-10 from the floor overall. He also added three assists.
Worku finished with 18 points and five assists while Rutherford added 16 points.

Source: UCI Athletic Communications