UC Irvine Anteaters @ Long Beach State Beach
Leonard, Rutherford help UC Irvine beat Long Beach St. 82-80
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Evan Leonard hit 3 of 4 from 3-point range and scored 18 points and Tommy Rutherford made a baby hook with 2.4 seconds left to help UC Irvine beat Long Beach State 82-80 on Saturday night.
Eyassu Worku added 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting and Rutherford finished with 13 and two blocks for UCI (19-5, 7-1 Big West). The Anteaters have won five in a row and eight of their last nine.
Deishaun Booker scored all of LBSU's points in a 7-2 run that gave the 49ers a 74-71 lead with 3:43 left. The teams traded baskets before Leonard hit a 3 and then a dunk by Rutherford gave UCI a two-point lead with a minute to go. Edon Maxhuni answered with a 3-pointer and, after Worku hit a jumper, Mason Riggins made 1 of 2 free throws to make it 80-all with 15 seconds remaining. Rutherford scored from the left block and Byers missed a potential winning heave from half court as time expired.
Booker finished with 29 points and Byers added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Long Beach State (8-15, 2-5).
Game Information
Long Beach, CA
Referee:Jeff Ketchu
Referee:Mark Fulton
Referee:Bill Vinovich
2025-26 Standings
| Big West ConferenceBig 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 |
Men's College Basketball News

Ex-Abilene Christian player banned for allegedly throwing games
3d

Underwood agrees to new deal after Illinois' Final Four run
3d

Purdue men's basketball lands top-10 7-foot junior Isaiah Hill
3d

