April 29, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

Top-seeded UCI opens Big West Tournament Thursday night against Long Beach State

UCI’s Eyassu Worku drives in for a shot during a game this season. (Photo courtesy UCI Athletic Communications)

UC Irvine’s men’s basketball team, the regular season Big West champion, is seeded first in the Big West Tournament beginning Thursday at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Coach Russell Turner’s Anteaters will face No. 8 Long Beach State Thursday at 6 p.m. in the opener in their first step to win the tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

In the other games on Thursday, No. 7 Cal State Fullerton faces No. 2 Cal State Northridge at noon; No. 6 UC Riverside meets No. 3 UC Santa Barbara at 2:30 p.m. and No. 5 UC Davis meets No. 4 Hawaii at 8:30 p.m.

The tournament continues on Friday with the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed at 6:30 p.m. and the other two quarterfinal round winners playing at 9 p.m. ESPN-U is scheduled to carry both semifinal games.

The championship game will be Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at Honda Center and is scheduled to be televised on ESPN-2.