UC Irvine Anteaters vs Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
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
Anaheim, CA
Referee:Daryl Gelinas
Referee:Bill Vinovich
Referee:Juan Corral
2025-26 Standings
| Big West ConferenceBig West Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawai'i | 10-4 | - | 18-6 |
| UC Irvine | 10-4 | - | 17-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 10-5 | 0.5 | 17-9 |
| Cal State Northridge | 9-5 | 1 | 16-10 |
| UC Davis | 9-6 | 1.5 | 16-10 |
| UC San Diego | 8-7 | 2.5 | 18-9 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 8-7 | 2.5 | 13-14 |
| Cal Poly | 7-8 | 3.5 | 11-16 |
| Long Beach State | 4-10 | 6 | 8-18 |
| UC Riverside | 3-12 | 7.5 | 8-19 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 2-12 | 8 | 8-18 |
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