UCI players, coaches and followers celebrate after the Anteaters won the regular season title (Photo courtesy UCI Athletic Communications, For OC Sports Zone).
UC Irvine’s men’s basketball team capped the regular season with an 86-74 Big West Conference win over Cal State Northridge Saturday night in front of more than 3,000 fans at the Bren Center.
The Anteaters finished with a 15-1 Big West record, tying the program best set in 2000-01 and extended their winning streak to 13, which also ties the school mark set by that 2000-01 team. UCI is 27-5 overall, its best regular-season record in program history.
“It’s satisfying to win tonight but we are still hungry and we know that the most critical time to well way is still in front of us,” said UCI Coach Russell Turner. “I’m really proud of this senior group for the team they have created. We’ve grown together and gotten better and these guys are all committed to one another. There’s great belief in our locker room in what we can accomplish.”
Evan Leonard led UCI with 17 points. Max Hazzard had 16 points and made 4 of 11 3-pointers and notched five assists. Tommy Rutherford had 10 points and eight rebounds and Jonathan Galloway had eight points and 11 rebounds.
Seniors Elston Jones (eight points) and Spencer Rivers (eight points) also contributed.
UCI now gets ready for the start of the Big West Conference Tournament. The Anteaters are top seeded and will face No. 8 UC Riverside Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Honda Center.
UCI is looking to win the Big West Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.
BIG WEST TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Thursday, March 14 – Quarterfinals (ESPN3)
#2 UC Santa Barbara vs. #7 CSUN, Noon
#3 Cal State Fullerton vs. #6 UC Davis, 2:30 p.m.
#1 UC Irvine vs. #8 UC Riverside, 6 p.m.
#4 Hawaii vs. #5 Long Beach State, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, March 15 – Semifinals (ESPNU)
*Highest remaining seed vs. Lowest remaining seed, 6:30 p.m.
Other two quarterfinal winners – 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 16 – Championship (ESPN2)
Two semifinal winners, 9 p.m.
*Will be tape delayed and will air at the conclusion of the 9 p.m. semifinal. Both semifinal games will be available live on ESPN3
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