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UC Irvine outlasts UC San Diego in showdown between Big West’s best

January 19, 2024

UC Irvine forward Devin Tillis, right, tries to wrestle the ball away from UC San Diego forward Francis Nwaokorie during the first half of their Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine guard Pierre Crockrell II takes a jump shot during the first half of their Big West Conference game against UC San Diego on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine guard Derin Saran, right, tries to get around UC San Diego forward J’Raan Brooks during the first half of their Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC San Diego forward J’Raan Brooks loses control of the ball during the first half of their Big West Conference game against UC Irvine on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine center Bent Leuchten, left, and UC San Diego center Emmanuel Tshimanga battle for a rebound during the first half of their Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine forward Dean Keeler, right, defends as UC San Diego center Emmanuel Tshimanga looks to shoot during their Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine coach Russell Turner objects to a call by the officials during their Big West Conference game against UC San Diego on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine guard Derin Saran, left, gets past UC San Diego forward Tyler McGhie as he looks to score during their Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine forward Dean Keeler, center, grabs the rebound between UC San Diego forward J’Raan Brooks, left, and forward Francis Nwaokorie, right, during their Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine guard Justin Hohn looks to shoot in traffic during their Big West Conference game against UC San Diego on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine guard Derin Saran is fouled by UC San Diego forward Francis Nwaokorie as he drives to the basket during their Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine guard Langston Redfield shoots during their Big West Conference game against UC San Diego on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine forward Carter Welling goes up for a dunk during the final seconds of their Big West Conference victory over UC San Diego on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine guard Langston Redfield (21) cheers his team from the bench late in the second half of their Big West Conference game against UC San Diego on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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IRVINE — Heading into Big West Conference play three weeks ago, few expected UC Irvine and UC San Diego to be the featured matchup after five games, but both entered Thursday night’s meeting as the only unbeaten teams left in the conference.

UCI now stands alone after a 76-65 victory over the Tritons at the Bren Events Center.

Andre Henry led the way for UCI (13-5 overall, 6-0 Big West) with 18 points and he was the primary defender on UCSD’s leading scorer, Bryce Pope, who came in averaging 18.7 points with 37 consecutive games in double figures dating to last season. Pope was held to eight points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field.

Henry, who shot 4 for 6 from 3-point range, said the defensive effort on Pope meant more to him than his 18 points.

“We knew how important he was to their team, his scoring, just his playmaking in general,” Henry said. “I might get the credit, but that’s a team job right there. We played great team defense and we just made everything hard for him, and we just tried to have other guys beat us.”

Justin Hohn had 14 points and five assists and Devin Tillis scored all 11 of his points in the second half while also contributing nine rebounds and three steals for UCI, which improved to 7-0 at home this season.

Francis Nwaokorie had 17 points and seven rebounds, but he scored just two in the second half for UCSD (11-7, 5-1), which was picked to finish ninth in the Big West preseason coaches’ poll. Tyler McGhie added 12 points and Hayden Gray had 11 points and six rebounds.

“I thought we wore them down, which is what we thought we could do, as the game went on,” UCI coach Russell Turner said. “I thought we had some really outstanding performances on both offense and defense.”

The Anteaters trailed 33-32 at halftime and were still behind by two points when they went on a 7-0 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 50-45 with 12:42 left in the game.

UCI missed a few chances to expand the lead before Bent Leuchten made two free throws in a one-and-one situation to extend the lead to 59-53 and Henry then scored inside to make it 61-53 with 4:58 left.

The Tritons could only get as close as six points the rest of the way.

“Andre has done what we ask guys to do,” Turner said. “He’s built his game off of his defense and it’s almost like, the better defense he plays, the better offense he plays. So he’s taken the challenge to play the other teams’ best players.”

The Anteaters finished with 19 assists and just seven turnovers.

“We have a team of good passers and that was one of the things that I knew coming into the season,” Turner said. “It’s hard to teach passing. You either have it or you don’t, so I think we have a chance to get better.”

After six lead changes in the opening 20 minutes, the Tritons took a one-point lead into the break.

Both teams shot 42.9% from the floor in the first half, but the Tritons owned a 20-11 edge in rebounding.

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UCI was ultimately outrebounded 37-29, including 10-3 on the offensive end.

“I’m disappointed that we’re not rebounding better as a team right now,” Turner said.

Henry and Langston Redfield took turns guarding Pope and limited him to two points on 1-for-4 shooting in the opening half.

UCI was 6 for 15 from 3-point range in the first half and 6 for 13 on 2-point attempts.

The Tritons took their biggest lead of the first half at 21-14 with 7:27 left, but the Anteaters outscored UCSD 19-11 the rest of the half.

Francis Nwaokorie, who came in averaging 12.5 points, scored 15 in the first half for the Tritons.

Hohn, Henry and Leuchten each had eight points in the opening half for Irvine.

Orange County Register

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UC Irvine outlasts UC San Diego in showdown between Big West’s best

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