SAN LUIS OBISPO — The UC Irvine men’s basketball team used a three-headed monster to survive an overtime scare on Thursday night.
The trio of Devin Tillis, Bent Leuchten and Myles Che combined for 71 points to lead the Anteaters to a 96-89 overtime victory against Cal Poly at the Mott Athletic Center. Tillis (25 points, 10 rebounds), Leuchten (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Che (22 points) became the first UCI trio to each score 20 points or more in the same game since 2011.
Tillis shot 9 for 17 from the floor and 5 for 5 from the free-throw line, while the 7-foot-1 Leuchten shot 6 for 12 from the field, 12 for 14 from the foul line and blocked three shots. Leuchten scored nine of UCI’s 18 points during the 5-minute overtime period.
Che shot 9 for 16 from the floor to go with five rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Justin Hohn added 10 points, five rebounds and a career high-tying five steals.
Once again, UCI (12-2 overall, 2-0 Big West) was tremendous at the free-throw line, going 28 for 31 (90.3%).
UCI led by 16 in the first half and was ahead by 11 midway through the second half before the Mustangs (6-9, 0-3) worked their way back into the game, setting up a tense finish.
Che made a pair of free throws to give UCI an 80-77 lead with 19.9 seconds left in regulation, but Cal Poly’s Isaac Jessup made a game-tying 3-pointer with 10 seconds left that hit a dead spot on the rim before bouncing in. UCI’s last shot did not fall, sending the game into OT.
Tillis and Leuchten were connected early in the extra period, as Tillis fed Leuchten for a pair of of baskets, the second of which became a three-point play for an 85-82 lead with 3:26 left. Tillis followed with a three-point play of his own for an 88-82 lead, then Che hit a floater for a 90-82 lead with 2:15 remaining.
The Mustangs scored the next four points to get within 90-86, but Hohn made four free throws and Leuchten made two for a 96-86 lead with 27 seconds left to secure the win.
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The Anteaters had a 50-45 rebounding advantage to go with nine blocks and 10 steals, scoring 22 points off of 18 Cal Poly miscues.
The Mustangs were just 8 for 11 from the free-throw line.
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UCI plays its first home game in 29 days when it hosts UC Riverside (10-5, 3-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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