Contributing writer

Dan Arritt

UC Irvine’s Myles Che, left, Justin Hohn, center, and Jurian Dixon celebrate a play during their Big West Tournament semifinal victory over Cal Poly on Friday night in Henderson, Nev. All three scored in double figures as the second-seeded Anteaters dominated the second half in a 96-78 win. (Photo courtesy of Big West Conference)

UC Irvine pulls away from Cal Poly to reach Big West Tournament title game

March 15, 2025 at 12:26 a.m.

The second-seeded Anteaters (28-5) dominate the second half in a 96-78 win and will face top-seeded UC San Diego (29-4) in a much-anticipated showdown on Saturday night.

UC Irvine’s Hunter Hernandez drives as UC Davis’ Sydney Burns defends during their Big West Tournament semifinal on Friday afternoon in Henderson, Nev. Hernandez had a team-best 15 points for the second-seeded Anteaters, who lost to the third-seeded Aggies, 63-56. (Photo courtesy of Big West Conference)

UC Irvine women bounced by UC Davis in Big West Tournament semifinals

March 14, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

The second-seeded Anteaters fall into a big first-half hole, claw their way back in the second half, but can never get over the hump in a 63-56 loss to the...

UC Riverside’s Makayla Rosa handles the ball during their Big West Conference Tournament first-round game against Long Beach State on Wednesday afternoon in Henderson, Nev. Rose had 13 points, six assists and three steals in the seventh-seeded Highlanders’ 54-40 win. (Photo courtesy of Big West Conference)

UC Riverside women outlast Long Beach State in Big West Tournament opener

March 13, 2025 at 3:41 p.m.

Both teams shoot below 30%, but the seventh-seeded Highlanders use a flurry of fourth-quarter 3-pointers to take control in a 54-40 win. UCR next faces No. 3 seed UC Davis in...

Clockwise from top left, UC Riverside’s Barrington Hargress, UC Irvine Bent Leuchten and CSUN’s Keonte Jones hope to lead their teams to the Big West Tournament title this week in Henderson, Nevada. (Photos by Paul Rodriguez and Milka Soko, Contributing Photographers)

Big West Tournament: UC Irvine, UC Riverside and CSUN come in confident

March 11, 2025 at 8:35 a.m.

The Anteaters, Highlanders and Matadors finished in the top four in the regular-season standings, and all of them are capable of knocking off top-seeded UC San Diego.

UC Irvine guard Hunter Hernandez and the second-seeded Anteaters are looking to repeat as Big West Tournament champions this week in Henderson, Nevada, but several teams appear capable of winning the event and earning the NCAA Tournament berth that comes with it. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Big West Women’s Tournament: UC Irvine looks for 2nd straight title

March 11, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.

The second-seeded Anteaters hope to be the team “that’s firing at the same time,” but several squads appear capable of winning the eight-team event.

UC Irvine point guard Déja Lee, shown in a file image, had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists while committing just one turnover in a 62-49 victory over UC Santa Barbara in the Anteaters’ regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon at the Bren Events Center. (Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Athletics)

Déja Lee, UC Irvine women beat UCSB in regular-season finale

March 9, 2025 at 1:13 a.m.

The senior, thriving in her switch to point guard this season, has 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists while committing just one turnover in a 62-49 win. The Anteaters...

UC Irvine players including guard Nikki Tom, second from right, celebrate after they rallied to beat UC Davis, 55-53, in a Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. Tom hit the game-winning shot with 1.6 seconds left. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine women edge UC Davis to clinch top-2 seed in Big West Tournament

March 7, 2025 at 12:13 a.m.

Nikki Tom sinks a pull-up jumper with 1.6 seconds left, giving the Anteaters a 55-53 home win that secures a spot in the semifinals next Friday in Henderson, Nevada.

Long Beach State edged by UCSB as losing streak reaches 11 games

February 22, 2025 at 11:09 p.m.

Down by 11 with three minutes left, LBSU goes on a 9-0 run and twice has a chance to tie or take the lead in the final 30 seconds in...

Cal State Northridge forward Marcus Adams Jr., left, takes a shot as UC Irvine center Bent Leuchten defends during a Big West Conference game on Thursday night at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

CSUN rides big 2nd half to upset of UC Irvine

February 21, 2025 at 12:55 a.m.

Marcus Adams Jr. scores 20 of his 24 points in the second half as Northridge pulls away for an 84-72 win and knocks the host Anteaters out of first place...

UC Irvine guard Hunter Hernandez, left, loses control of the ball as she tries to get past Hawai’i guard Jovi Lefotu during their Big West Conference game on Saturday afternoon at UCI’s Bren Events Center. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

UC Irvine women drop Big West showdown with first-place Hawaii

February 15, 2025 at 11:33 p.m.

The second-place Anteaters shoot just 4 for 29 from 3-point range and 24% overall as the Rainbow Wahine strengthen their hold on the top spot and complete a sweep of...

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