UC Irvine Basketball Stuns Top-Ranked Opponent In Overtime Thriller

UC Irvine Basketball Stuns Top-Ranked Opponent In Overtime Thriller...

UC Irvine's men's basketball team pulled off a dramatic 78-75 overtime victory against #12-ranked San Diego State late Thursday night, sending shockwaves through college basketball. The Anteaters' win marks their first against a top-15 opponent since 2019 and significantly boosts their NCAA Tournament resume.

The game, played before a sold-out crowd at the Bren Events Center, saw junior guard DJ Davis score a career-high 28 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime. The victory comes as UC Irvine (22-6) fights for position in the Big West Conference standings with just two regular-season games remaining.

Thursday's upset is trending nationally as analysts debate whether the Anteaters have done enough to secure an at-large NCAA Tournament bid should they fail to win the Big West Tournament. The team's recent eight-game winning streak has drawn attention from bracketologists, with ESPN's Joe Lunardi moving UC Irvine into his "Next Four Out" category Friday morning.

Head coach Russell Turner praised his team's resilience after the game. "These guys have bought into defending and rebounding every night," Turner told reporters. "When you play that way, you give yourself chances against anybody."

The win holds special significance for UC Irvine's program, which made its only Sweet 16 appearance in 2019. Campus celebrations continued into Friday morning, with students gathering at the campus' Aldrich Park to celebrate the signature victory.

UC Irvine faces Cal State Fullerton on Saturday in another critical conference matchup. With the Big West Tournament beginning March 10, the Anteaters control their own destiny for both a regular-season championship and potential NCAA Tournament berth.