IRVINE, Calif. (Interstat) — In a commanding display of efficiency and defensive pressure, the UC Irvine Anteaters overwhelmed the Cal Poly Mustangs 107-85 in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Bren Events Center.

The Anteaters, fueled by a dominant performance in the paint and a significant advantage in turnovers, never trailed after the opening minute. They methodically built a double-digit lead in the first half and steadily expanded it after halftime, avenging a home loss to the Mustangs just three weeks prior.

Jurian Dixon led all scorers with 22 points for UC Irvine, showcasing his versatility by adding five assists. His backcourt mate, Tama Isaac, orchestrated the offense with a game-high five assists. The Anteaters’ frontcourt was equally impactful, with Kyle Evans contributing 17 points and a formidable five blocked shots, while Harrison Carrington added 14 points. The depth of the Anteaters was on full display as Andre Henry scored 16 and Akiva McBirney-Griffin added 12 off the bench.

Cal Poly was led by Cayden Ward’s 16 points and Hamad Mousa’s 15. The Mustangs, however, were undone by a combination of poor ball security and an inability to contain UC Irvine’s interior attack. The Anteaters scored 64 points in the paint compared to Cal Poly’s 38, and converted 17 points off 12 Mustang turnovers while committing only five of their own.

The game’s decisive stretch began late in the first half. Leading 45-42 after a Guzman Vasilic three-pointer for Cal Poly with just over two minutes remaining, UC Irvine closed the period on a 7-0 run. The surge was capped by a Jurian Dixon three-pointer assisted by Andre Henry with 20 seconds left, sending the Anteaters into the locker room with a 52-42 advantage and all the momentum.

That momentum carried into the second half, where UC Irvine quickly extinguished any hope of a Cal Poly rally. The Anteaters opened the final period with a 9-2 run over the first three minutes, pushing their lead to 61-44 after a Dixon dunk. The Mustangs would never get closer than 13 points the rest of the way as UC Irvine’s lead ballooned to as many as 24.

The statistical disparity told the story of the lopsided contest. UC Irvine shot a blistering 56.3% from the field (40 of 71), while Cal Poly managed just 38.7% (29 of 75). The Anteaters also out-assisted the Mustangs 9-3, out-stole them 9-3, and out-blocked them 7-2. Cal Poly’s only significant advantage came at the free-throw line, where they made 17 of 21 attempts.

With the victory, UC Irvine improved to 21-10 overall and strengthened its position in the Big West standings ahead of its regular-season finale. Cal Poly fell to 13-18 and will look to regroup in its final game. An announced crowd of 2,355 at the Bren Events Center watched the Anteaters execute a comprehensive victory, outperforming pregame expectations as a favorite and decisively winning a game that statistical models heavily favored them to take.