UC Irvine vs UC Riverside Picks and Prediction – 1/24/2025

On Thursday, the UC Irvine Anteaters (17-2) face off against the UC Riverside Highlanders (11-8) at SRC Arena in Riverside, California. Get ready for the college basketball season with our college basketball picks.

UC Riverside comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games. In an exciting victory over UC San Diego, the Highlanders clinched an 85-81 win, thanks to an impressive performance by Barrington Hargress who single-handedly scored 40 points. This season, Hargress has consistently been a standout player for UC Riverside, leading the team in scoring with an impressive average of 20.4 points per game. Following him is Kaleb Smith, who has been a strong contributor with an average of 11.2 points per game. On the rebounding front, Joel Armotrading has been a dominant force, leading the team with an average of 6.8 rebounds per game. In addition to his scoring prowess, Hargress also leads the team in creating opportunities, averaging 3.9 assists per game. Over their last five matchups, UC Riverside has been defensively challenged, allowing opponents to score an average of 74.2 points per game. Currently tied for third place in the Big West Conference standings, the Highlanders are aiming to secure their fifth conference win of the season. Overall, the team's offensive efforts have resulted in an average of 72 points per game.

UC Irvine enters this game on a seven-game winning streak. In a commanding 101-71 victory over Cal Poly, Devin Tillis stood out for the Anteaters by putting up 21 points. This season, the team has been spearheaded in scoring by Bent Leuchten, who averages 15.9 points per game, while Devin Tillis follows closely as the second-highest scorer with an average of 13.6 points per match. Demonstrating his versatility, Bent Leuchten also dominates the rebounding category for UC Irvine, grabbing an average of 8.9 boards per game. When it comes to distributing the ball, Justin Hohn leads the team with an average of 3.6 assists this season. Over their last five matchups, UC Irvine has been offensively impressive, posting an average of 80.2 points per game. Currently, they hold the top spot in the Big West Conference standings, striving to maintain their undefeated streak in conference play. On average, the Anteaters score 76.2 points per game across their season.

UC Riverside has demonstrated strong performance on their home court, securing victories in seven out of their last eight home games. In conference play, they have managed to win four out of their seven matchups. Meanwhile, their upcoming opponents, the UC Irvine Anteaters, have been impressive in conference competitions, maintaining a perfect record with seven wins. Additionally, UC Irvine has shown resilience away from home, winning eight of their last ten road games. As these two conference rivals face off, the stakes are high, with the road team eager to extend their impressive winning streak. Final Score Prediction, UC Irvine Anteaters win but fail to cover, 75-71.