CANCUN, Mexico — Jurian Dixon scored 13 points and Andre Henry had 11 to lead a balanced effort as UC Irvine beat South Dakota State, 64-52, on Wednesday night in the Cancun Challenge.
Kyle Evans had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Anteaters (4-4), who survived turning the ball over 20 times and ended their three-game losing streak at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
Elijah Chol had 10 points and seven rebounds, while Tama Isaac also scored 10 points (seven on free throws) and all-tournament selection Derin Saran contributed six points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
“It was a good bounce-back game for us,” said Evans, who was named the player of the game. “We wanted this game badly and wanted to leave Cancun with a win. I thought we moved the ball well today, making one or two more passes. Offensively we took a big step tonight and I think it showed.”
UCI shot 38.8% from the floor but outrebounded SDSU 42-33 and made 21 of 28 free throws, including a 20-of-24 showing in the second half.
Trey Buchanan finished with 12 points and two steals to lead the Jackrabbits (4-4), who shot a season-worst 31.7% from the field, 4 for 23 from 3-point range and went 10 for 17 at the free-throw line. Jaden Jackson added eight points and six rebounds, and Joe Sayler also scored eight points.
UCI held a 29-22 halftime lead and extended its advantage when the Jackrabbits went ice cold after the break. SDSU scored just two points in the first 10 minutes of the second half as UCI built a 39-24 lead with 10:43 left.
A thunderous two-handed dunk from Evans started an 11-6 run, then after four consecutive free throws by Isaac and two by Harrison Carrington, Evans added two more from the stripe and Henry hit a 3-pointer to give the Anteaters their largest lead at 52-36 with 5:15 remaining.
UCI held a 58-43 lead with 1:39 left before the Jackrabbits scored six unanswered points to get within nine points. Dixon made a pair of free throws before an SDSU 3-pointer cut it to an eight-point margin with 46 seconds left, but that was the end of the threat.
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UCI plays at San Jose State on Sunday at 2 p.m., its last game before Big West Conference play begins next Thursday (Dec. 4) with a home game against UC Riverside.
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