UCSD Tritons Defeat UC Irvine Anteaters 71-69

Led by Hudson Mayes' 17 points, UCSD secures Big West Conference victory

Feb. 22, 2026 at 6:48am

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The UCSD Tritons defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters 71-69 in a close basketball game on Saturday. Hudson Mayes scored 17 points for the Tritons, who improved their record to 19-9 overall and 9-7 in the Big West Conference. UC Irvine's Jurian Dixon led all scorers with 22 points in the losing effort, as the Anteaters dropped to 18-10 on the season and 11-5 in conference play.

Why it matters

This Big West Conference matchup was an important game for both teams as they jockey for position in the standings. UCSD's victory keeps them in contention for a higher seed in the upcoming conference tournament, while UC Irvine's loss is a setback in their quest for a regular season title.

The details

UCSD was led by Hudson Mayes' 17 points and 8 rebounds. Alex Chaikin added 15 points, including 3 three-pointers. For UC Irvine, Jurian Dixon scored a game-high 22 points to go with 4 assists and 2 steals, while Andre Henry chipped in 15 points.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.

The players

Hudson Mayes

A key player for the UCSD Tritons, scoring 17 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in the victory.

Jurian Dixon

The leading scorer for the UC Irvine Anteaters, pouring in 22 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough game against a very good UC Irvine team. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and made the plays we needed to get the win.”

— Eric Olen, UCSD Head Coach

“We just couldn't get enough stops down the stretch. Credit to UCSD, they made the winning plays when it counted most.”

— Russell Turner, UC Irvine Head Coach

What’s next

Both teams will continue their Big West Conference schedules next week, with UCSD hosting Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine traveling to take on UC Santa Barbara.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory keeps UCSD in the hunt for a higher seed in the Big West tournament, while UC Irvine's loss is a setback in their quest for the regular season conference title. The close nature of the game showcases the competitive balance in the Big West this season.