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The top two teams in the Big West clash when the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team heads to UC Irvine for a nationally-televised matchup on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. HT at the Bren Events Center with the game broadcast on ESPNU.
The Rainbow Warriors and Anteaters are currently tied for first in the league standings at 7-2 apiece. The teams met earlier this month on Jan. 10 with UH pulling off a dramatic 67-66 win as Hunter Erickson’s game-winning jumper put the cap on a game that featured 22 lead changes. The win ended a four-game series skid for UH against UCI.
HEAD COACH ERAN GANOT
Overall record: 189-124 (12th season)
At Hawai’i: 186-122 (11th season)
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDUCI leads, 24-10
In Irvine: UCI leads, 10-3
Streak: UH, 1
NEWS & NOTES
This will be the final regular-season meeting between the teams as conference rivals. UH heads to the Mountain West next season.
UH leads the Big West and ranks 14th nationally in scoring defense (64.9). UCI leads the BW and ranks third nationally in field goal percentage defense (.375).
The teams combined for 20 blocks in the first meeting – nine by UC Irvine and a season-high 11 by UH. UCI’s Kyle Evans – the nation’s top shot blocker (3.2 bpg) – had five blocks in the contest.
UH is 2-3 on the road this season, including 2-2 in Big West play.
UH’s average margin of victory in its two Big West road wins is 31.5 points and its average margin of defeat in its two Big West road losses is 12.5 points.
The ‘Bows have lost in its last six visits to the Bren Events Center. Their last win there was a 62-61 victory in 2018.
Eleven of UH’s 15 wins this year have come by double-digits, including five of its seven Big West wins.
UH has won by 20 or more nine times, including each of its last three Big West wins.
UH leads the Big West and ranks 23rd nationally in scoring margin (+15.3).
#HawaiiMBB