UCI’s men’s basketball wins the 20th win at 73-66 win over UC Davis -New University

The UC Irvine Men’s Basketball Team (20-3, 10-1) has overcome the strong defensive efforts from UC Davis (12-10, 6-5) to provide a win with 73-66 at the Bren’s event center on February 1, Noting their 20th victory of the season. With the victory, Anteaters expanded their home series to 22 games – the longest active series in the country.

UC Davis’s aggressive protection created Ervin’s problems early, forcing multiple speeds and preventing anteaters from establishing their usual offensive rhythm. The agias took advantage of the slow start of Irvin and jumped to an early lead by 7-0. The senior UC Davis guard Tai Johnson led the charge, sinking a jumper to pull and helping the senior forward/wing Pablo Tamba for an open triphone.

The antitors found their foundation around the corner three of the Secondary Milet Miles’s guards that. The shot triggered a rally as Ervine tied the game 7-7 after a rapid dialing of the graduated guard Justin Hon. The two teams traded baskets for much of the first half, with the UC Davis briefly pulling 29-22 after three of the freshman Isaiah Chapel.

UCI responded at the last minute of the half, closing the deficit with a deep three of the senior center leuchten and a second second chance from the freshman of Redshirt Jurian Dixon. The first half ended with UC Davis, leading with only one point, 34-33.

Leaving the break, Ervine quickly took control. The anti-asters opened the half-time with 8-2, nourished by a pair of free and arranged by che. The defensive intensity rose when Leuchten attempted to arrange Johnson by setting the tone for the second half. One of the playing plays of the game came when he was stuffed on the UC Irvine bench while draining a three-story, winning a four-point game that extended the anteater’s lead to 58-51.

UC Davis tried to go back, but Irvin’s defense continued to thwart the agias. With 2:31 left in the game, Hon tried the decisive triphone when the watch expires, pushing the lead to 73-63 and effectively sealing the victory for the anteater. The last minutes of the game were determined by the defensive resistance of Irvin, as they forced contested shots and limited options for a second chance for UC Davis.

Leuchten recorded his 11th double double for the season, leading UCI with 21 points, 13 rebounds and the top six career assists. That he contributed 17 points, including his four -point game. Hon added 17 points and three thefts while senior striker Dixon and Redshirt Devin Tissa provided key protective stops down the section.

Johnson at UC Davis finished with 21 points, but Aggies struggles to generate an insult late, shooting only 38% of the pitch compared to 56.3% on Irvine beyond the arc.

With this victory, UC Irvine became only the third team in the country to reach 20 wins this season. Anti -ate are now preparing for a high bet match, a national television match against UC San Diego at the Bren’s event center on February 8, with the first place in the big west of the line.

Curtis Wang is a sports trainee for the winter 2025 neighborhood. It can be reached [email protected]S

Edited by Jack Fedor