UC Irvine Tops Hawaii 66-49 in Big West Clash

The UC Irvine Anteaters secured a decisive victory over the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors with a score of 66-49 in a Big West Conference matchup. Bent Leuchten was instrumental for UCI, scoring 21 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and blocking four shots, while Devin Tillis contributed 15 points. The Anteaters' defense was a standout feature, limiting Hawaii to just 29% shooting, marking season lows for the Rainbow Warriors in points and field-goal percentage. Despite a brief rally from Hawaii in the second half, UCI maintained control throughout the game, aided by an early lead built on forcing turnovers. Hawaii now faces a crucial stretch in their season, needing to win four of their last five games to stay competitive for a spot in the conference tournament. UCI continues to share the top position in the Big West with UC San Diego, improving their overall record to 22-4.