UC Irvine Anteaters @ Denver Pioneers
UC Irvine defeats Denver 63-50
DENVER -- Chris McNealy and Luke Nelson scored 14 points each as UC Irvine broke away with hot shooting in the second half to defeat Denver 63-50 on Saturday.
The Anteaters (7-6) bolted out from a 28-27 halftime lead with a 15-8 run that featured three 3-pointers by Nelson.
UC Irvine made 24 of 39 field goals, the 61.5 percent its best shooting of the season.
The Pioneers (5-6) came as close as four, 47-43 on a Bryant Rucker jumper -- his only bucket of the game -- with 10:50 to play. But UC Irvine scored the next eight points, including a McNealy 3 on a pass from Nelson. McNealy, a senior, was 6 of 11 from the field and has scored 982 career points.
Brett Olson led Denver with 14 points and Jalen Love added 11. The Pioneers hit just 17 of 50 field goals and shot 7-for-25 from 3-point range.
Game Information
Denver, CO
Referee:Todd Von Sossan
Referee:Bart Wegenke
Referee:Jim Ferrari
2025-26 Standings
| Big West Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 15-5 | - | 23-12 |
| Hawai'i | 14-6 | 1 | 24-9 |
| UC San Diego | 12-8 | 3 | 23-11 |
| Cal State Northridge | 12-8 | 3 | 20-14 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 12-8 | 3 | 18-16 |
| UC Davis | 11-9 | 4 | 19-14 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 11-9 | 4 | 18-14 |
| Cal Poly | 10-10 | 5 | 14-19 |
| Long Beach State | 6-14 | 9 | 10-22 |
| UC Riverside | 5-15 | 10 | 10-22 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 2-18 | 13 | 8-24 |
| Summit League | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 14-2 | - | 27-8 |
| St. Thomas-Minnesota | 12-4 | 2 | 24-10 |
| North Dakota | 10-6 | 4 | 18-17 |
| South Dakota | 8-8 | 6 | 16-16 |
| Omaha | 8-8 | 6 | 16-17 |
| Denver | 8-8 | 6 | 15-17 |
| South Dakota State | 7-9 | 7 | 14-18 |
| Oral Roberts | 4-12 | 10 | 10-23 |
| Kansas City | 1-15 | 13 | 4-27 |
Men's College Basketball News
