- Matchup: Long Beach State Beach vs UC Irvine Anteaters
- Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Venue: Bren Events Center, Irvine, CA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The UC Irvine Anteaters (11-5) aim to secure a victory against the Long Beach State Beach (5-10) this Thursday at the Bren Events Center.
In their last game, Long Beach State triumphed over Cal Poly with a score of 74-66. The Beach recorded a shooting percentage of 50.0% (29 of 58) while making 4 out of 17 three-point attempts. From the charity stripe, they converted 12 of 17 shots, achieving a percentage of 70.6%. On the boards, they grabbed a total of 30 rebounds, including 6 offensive, and provided 16 assists while forcing 11 turnovers and recording 5 steals. Defensively, Long Beach State held their opponent to a shooting percentage of 33.9% (19 of 56). Cal Poly registered 15 assists and 5 steals in the matchup, while securing 33 rebounds (7 offensive, 26 defensive) but did not block any shots. They shot 72.0% from the free throw line, hitting 18 of 25 attempts, but only made 10 of 30 attempts from beyond the arc. In terms of fouls, Long Beach State recorded 21, compared to Cal Poly’s 14.
Petar Majstorovic was a standout player in this game, contributing 25 points on 12 of 16 shooting, totaling 32 minutes on the court and grabbing 10 rebounds along with 3 assists, finishing with a remarkable shooting rate of 75.0%.
Long Beach State enters this game with a 5-10 record for the season. They average 12.1 turnovers per game and commit 19.9 fouls as a team. Overall, Long Beach State secures 33.3 rebounds per game and has accumulated 207 assists this season, ranking 230th nationwide in assists. The Beach converts 31.3% of their three-point shots (101 of 323) and 70.8% from the free throw line. They average 74.9 points per game (235th in D-1) with a field goal percentage of 45.6%.
Defensively, Long Beach State forces 14.1 turnovers per game while drawing 16.0 fouls. They allow opponents a 37.7% success rate on 3-point attempts and rank 279th in college basketball for points per game allowed (77.4). The Beach concede a field goal percentage of 48.5% (397 of 819) and average 32.9 rebounds per game, ranking 220th nationally in defensive assists with a total of 209 allowed this season.
In their latest outing, the UC Irvine Anteaters achieved a convincing 86-64 win against CSU Fullerton. They allowed CSU Fullerton to secure 26 rebounds (11 offensive), shot 36.7% from three-point range (11 of 30), and converted 9 of 12 free throws for a 75.0% rating. The Anteaters limited CSU Fullerton to a shooting percentage of 32.8% (22 of 67). Overall, UC Irvine shot an impressive 56.1% from the floor, making 32 of 57 shots. They successfully converted 45.8% of their 3-point attempts (11 of 24) and sank 11 of their 19 free throws, achieving a shooting percentage of 57.9%. CSU Fullerton accumulated 13 personal fouls, allowing the Anteaters numerous free throw opportunities. UC Irvine also recorded 40 rebounds, with 32 on defense and 8 on offense.
Derin Saran contributed significantly with a shooting performance of 7 of 12, achieving a 58.3% field goal rate and 11 rebounds. He accumulated 16 points in just 29 minutes of play and contributed 6 assists.
The Anteaters hold an 11-5 record this season. Offensively, they are shooting 47.5% from the floor, ranking 83rd nationally. UC Irvine has accumulated 1,263 points this season (averaging 78.9 points per game) and secures 40.3 rebounds per game. They average 17.6 assists per game (ranked 45th in college basketball) while committing 12.3 turnovers per game. They frequently commit 16.3 personal fouls per game and are hitting 66.4% from the free-throw line.
On the defensive side, UC Irvine ranks 47th nationally in points allowed per game, surrendering 66.9. They force 13.4 turnovers per game and restrict teams to a shooting percentage of 37.5% from the floor (5th in college basketball). The Anteaters concede a 33.9% shooting rate on 3-pointers (120 of 354), and opponents achieve 66.6% from the free throw line. They yield an average of 11.9 assists and 37.3 rebounds per game, ranking 68th and 301st in those defensive metrics respectively.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA clash against the spread?
Prediction: Go with UC Irvine
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