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IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine scored eight unanswered points late in the game to break open a close game and hand Hawai'i its first conference loss of the season, 68-64, Wednesday night at the Brenn Events Center. With the loss UH fell to 9-6 overall and 3-1 in the Big West.
 
It was tight game throughout with 21 lead changes, a total of 15 of those in the second half. But UH, the beneficiary of two close league wins, was unable to pull off another close one in the program's first-ever Big West road game. UH fell into a tie for second in the league standings with the loss. UC Irvine, meanwhile improved to 8-9 overall and 2-2 in the Big West.
 
Vander Joaquim scored a team-high 15 points for UH, while Christian Standhardinger recorded his sixth double-double of the year with 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Brandon Spearman, making his first start in the last eight games, finished with 12 points with all but two of those coming in the first half.
 
Chris McNealy led four Anteaters in double-digits with 15 points. 
 
Both teams left points off the board in the first half. UH scored 11 unanswered points to gain some separation before the Anteaters closed to within 31-28 at halftime. UH shot just 34 percent in the first frame, while UCI converted less than 30 percent of their shots.
 
The second half was a see-saw affair with four ties and 14 lead changes. UH led 57-56 with less than five minutes, but UCI went on an 11-1 run over the next four minutes to stake a 67-58 advantage with less than a minute remaining. 
 
UH made one last surge and pulled within 67-63 on a Brandon Jawato three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining. After forcing a UCI turnover moments later, Jawato had another 3-point look to pull the 'Bows to within one point, but the attempt rattled in-and-out of the basket.
 
The 'Bows shot just 36 percent for the game and finished with 16 turnovers, including turnovers on three successive possessions that spurred the Anteaters' decisive late-game run.
 
UH will now look to bounce back when it faces defending league champion and preseason favorite Long Beach State on Saturday, Jan. 12. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. PT (2:00 p.m. HT) at The Pyramid.