UC Irvine 90, Lincoln (California) 40 — UC Irvine overwhelmed Lincoln (California) in a 90-40 non-conference rout Thursday night at the Bren Events Center, producing one of the most lopsided results of the early NCAA basketball season.

The Anteaters improved to 2-0 with a dominant performance from start to finish. UC Irvine led 48-18 at halftime and never allowed Lincoln to find offensive rhythm, holding the visitors to 26.5% shooting for the game.

Match overview

UC Irvine opened the game with a 20-0 run and had already built a 30-point lead before the midway point of the first half. The Anteaters used full-court pressure to force turnovers and turned those mistakes into easy transition baskets.

By halftime, UC Irvine had forced 15 turnovers and scored 22 points off them. The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Anteaters emptying their bench while maintaining defensive pressure. Lincoln was held to 14 second-half points.

Key moments

The opening 20-0 run set the tone. UC Irvine forced Lincoln into six turnovers in the first five minutes and converted several steals into layups and open three-pointers. The Anteaters’ lead reached 40 points early in the second half, allowing the coaching staff to rotate deeply into the bench.

UC Irvine finished with 24 forced turnovers, 18 steals and a 44-28 rebounding advantage. The Anteaters also shot 51.6% from the field and made 11 three-pointers.

Standout performers

• Dylan Reyes, UC Irvine guard: 16 points, 4 assists and 3 steals in 22 minutes.
• Kofi Mensah, UC Irvine forward: 12 points and 10 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends.
• Jordan Pierce, Lincoln (California) guard: 11 points, one of the few bright spots for the visitors.
• UC Irvine bench: 42 points, highlighting the team’s depth and ability to sustain pressure.

What the win means

For UC Irvine, the victory is a confidence booster and a chance to develop rotation players early in the season. The Anteaters’ defensive intensity and depth were on full display, and the result gives the program a strong early-season data point before tougher non-conference matchups.

Lincoln (California) will look to regroup after a difficult road test. The visitors struggled against pressure and never recovered from the opening run, but the game provides a clear teaching opportunity moving forward.

UC Irvine stays unbeaten and continues its non-conference schedule with momentum, while Lincoln searches for answers on both ends.