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
