Box Score
INDIANAPOLIS -- No. 1 seed UC Irvine secured a 69-67 victory over No. 2 seed North Texas in the semifinals of the 2025 National Invitational Tournament (NIT), Tuesday at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Anteaters will move on to the NIT title game on Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m. PT against Chattanooga or Loyola Chicago. UC Irvine has the opportunity to join the 1982-83 Fresno State team as the only teams from The Big West to win the NIT.

UC Irvine was able to overcome differences of 17-5 in turnovers and 22-10 in second chance points with good shooting efficiency, hitting 49 percent (24-of-49) from the floor and 50 percent (9-of-18) from behind the arc.

UC Irvine and North Texas ended the first half tied with 30 points each. The Anteaters trailed by 15 points, 24-9, with 8:30 left in first half, before going into the locker room on a 21-6 run, ignited by Myles Che’s layup and capped off by a 3-pointer by Devin Tillis. UCI was buoyed by 3-point shooting, hitting four from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes.

UCI outscored UNT 39-37 in a back-and-forth second half to secure the two-point victory. Down by one point, Justin Hohn hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 left to give the Anteaters the lead for good. UCI went 5-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to secure the win.

Tillis recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds for a seventh double-double on the season. Bent Leuchten had a near double-double with 14 points, nine rebounds and blocked two shots. Justin Hohn hit three 3-pointers for 12 points and distributed eight assists. Che added 11 points and provided five assists.