| 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAW | 29 | 38 | 67 |
| UCI | 26 | 42 | 68 |
Hazzard's jumper lifts UC Irvine over Hawaii 68-67
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Evan Leonard scored 24 points, Max Hazzard added 15, including the game-winning jumper with seven seconds left, and UC Irvine rallied to beat Hawaii in Thursday night's Big West Conference Tournament quarterfinal.
The third-seeded Anteaters advance to a Friday semifinal.
Hawaii extended its 29-26 halftime lead to 45-36 on Leland Green's 3 early in the second half. The Anteaters closed to 47-44 on Leonard's 3-point play, but Gibson Johnson scored four straight points and the Rainbow Warriors led by 10 on Michael Thomas' dunk with 4:08 to go. Eyassu Worku's layup sparked a 14-2 run and the Anteaters led 66-64 on his free throw with 37 seconds left.
Johnson's 3-point play put Hawaii up 67-66, but Hazzard hit his jumper on the next possession and Brocke Stepteau's jumper at the buzzer missed.
Worku scored 18 points for UC Irvine (17-16), which notched its third straight win against Hawaii in tournament play.
Johnson scored 23 points and Thomas had 14 for the sixth-seeded Rainbow Warriors (17-13).
Game Information
- Referees:
- Daryl Gelinas
- Bill Vinovich
- Juan Corral
2024-25 Big West Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 9-1 | - | 19-3 |
| UC San Diego | 8-2 | 1 | 18-4 |
| UC Riverside | 7-3 | 2 | 14-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 6-4 | 3 | 14-7 |
| UC Davis | 6-4 | 3 | 12-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 5-5 | 4 | 13-8 |
| Hawai'i | 4-6 | 5 | 12-9 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 4-6 | 5 | 10-12 |
| Long Beach State | 3-7 | 6 | 7-15 |
| Cal Poly | 2-8 | 7 | 8-14 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 1-9 | 8 | 6-16 |
Men's College Basketball News