Big West Conference

UC Irvine’s Hunter Hernandez led the Anteaters to a 2-0 start to conference play for the sixth-straight season to earn Big West Player of the Week. This marks the senior’s third career honor, twice receiving distinction in the 2022-23 campaign (Jan. 23, Feb. 13). 

For the week, Hernandez averaged 23.5 points and 6.0 rebounds, while shooting 43 percent from the floor and 93 percent from the free throw line. The 'Eaters extended their win streak to seven games and improved to 8-2 on the season. 

In Saturday’s 72-46 win at CSUN, Hernandez went off for a career-high 31 points in 31 minutes. It was the first 30-point game by an Anteater since January 2021.  

The product of San Jose, Calif., went 11-for-25 from the field (44%) and 8-of-9 at the free throw line (89%) while adding eight rebounds and two steals.  

Two days earlier, the 5-foot-9 guard put up 16 points with a perfect 6-for-6 outing from the charity stripe and four boards in a 77-40 victory at UC Riverside.  

For the season, Hernandez is averaging 15.7 points per game to rate fifth in the league and averages 87.9 percent shooting from the line to stand in third in The Big West and 46th nationally.