SANTA BARBARA — The road warriors rallied their way to an impressive win at the Thunderdome.

The UC Irvine men’s basketball team, which trailed by 13 points at halftime, uncorked a 67-point second half to roar past UC Santa Barbara for a 97-88 win on Saturday night, closing the regular season with its nation-best 14th true road win.

UCI shot 74% from the field (23 for 31) in the second half, outscoring the Gauchos 67-45 to win its fifth straight game. The Anteaters, who trailed by as much as 17 in the first half, shot 57% for the night (34 for 60), including 6 for 16 from 3-point range. They were also 23 for 24 from the free-throw line.

Jurian Dixon had a career-high 23 points on 6-of-9 shooting and made all nine of his free throws to pace UCI (27-5 overall, 17-3 Big West). Devin Tillis scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and grabbed six rebounds, and Justin Hohn scored all of his 17 after halftime, shooting 7 for 17 from the field and dished out nine assists. Bent Leuchten recorded his 16th double-double of the season (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Kyle Evans added 10 points.

“It was an outstanding team win on the road again, and I just couldn’t be prouder of the way this team has performed and believed on the road this year,” said UCI coach Russell Turner, whose program has its highest win total since the 2018-19 team went 31-6. “To win 14 this year is a really special season.”

The Anteaters’ 14 road wins are a new program record, and their three neutral-court wins combine to give them a nation-best 17 “away” wins.

UCI is the No. 2 seed for next week’s eight-team Big West Tournament in Henderson, Nevada and received a double-bye into Friday night’s semifinals (8:30 p.m.). The Anteaters’ ability to keep their composure away from their home court should prove valuable the rest of the season.

“The belief this team has makes me the most excited for the opportunity we get to have to play in the Big West Tournament,” Turner said. “We know we are going to play good teams that can beat us. We also know what we are made of.”

The Anteaters, who lost starting guard Myles Che to an injury late in the first half, were tested from start to finish Saturday. UCSB (19-12, 11-9) used a 13-0 run to open a 31-15 lead with 5:11 left in the first half and the visitors were down 43-30 at the intermission.

UCI cut its deficit to four early in the second half, but UCSB used a 10-3 run to rebuild its lead and held a 76-63 advantage with 7:52 left. A three-point play from Leuchten started a 10-0 run that saw Dixon score seven straight points on a baseline layup, a pair of free throws and a corner 3-pointer to get the Anteaters within 76-73 with 5:27 left.

Hohn had a three-point play followed by a baseline drive to give UCI its first lead at 78-77 with 4:36 remaining. A Tillis jumper and a Dixon steal and coast-to-coast layup (plus a free throw) gave the Anteaters an 83-77 lead with 3:02 left. UCSB got back within four before Hohn answered with a 3-pointer with 1:44 left. Max Murrell made a 3-pointer to get UCSB within five with 43 seconds left, but the Gauchos got no closer as Dixon and Hohn helped secure the win.

“I am super proud of everyone, but especially these veterans,” Turner said. “It was the veterans tonight who mostly closed this game in Bent, Devin, Justin, and Ofure (Ujadughele). I just thought they were incredible and put a defensive run on UC Santa Barbara. Jurian Dixon was outstanding and really, really competitive in his defensive plays and offensive performance. Justin Hohn was just dominant once he got his legs back under him after we sat him out (Thursday).

“I think Myles will be okay and we will be cautious on that one, just like we were in the last game with Justin. Our team showed great belief in the next man up when another guy is out.”

Deuce Turner scored 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting (5 for 10 from 3-point range) to pace the Gauchos, who shot 53% from the field and a blistering 16 for 33 from 3-point range. Colin Smith added 18 points, and Stephan D. Swenson contributed 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.

UCI was outscored by 30 points from 3-point range, but offset that with a 50-26 advantage in the paint and a 15-point advantage at the foul line.

“To give them 16 three-pointers and win is a bit of a surprise, but our defense carried,” Turner said.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Final regular-season standings, through Saturday, March 8

UC San Diego – 28-4, 18-2

UC Irvine – 27-5, 17-3

CS Northridge – 22-9, 14-6

UC Riverside – 21-11, 14-6

UC Santa Barbara – 19-12, 11-9

UC Davis – 15-16, 9-11

Cal Poly (SLO) – 14-18, 8-12

CS Bakersfield – 14-18, 8-12

Hawaii – 15-16, 7-13

Long Beach State – 7-25, 3-17

CS Fullerton – 6-26, 1-19

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