Hawaii and UC Irvine Face Off in Big West Tournament Championship

The top two seeds in the Big West Conference tournament battle for an automatic NCAA tournament bid.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:57am

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The No. 1-seeded UC Irvine Anteaters (23-10) and the second-seeded Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (23-8) will square off in the Big West Conference tournament championship game on Saturday night in Henderson, Nevada. UC Irvine advanced to the final by defeating No. 4 seed CSUN 93-78, while Hawaii beat third-seeded Cal State Fullerton 78-63 in the semifinals. The teams split their regular-season matchups, with Hawaii winning 67-66 at home on January 10 and UC Irvine prevailing 87-76 in overtime on January 29 at home.

Why it matters

The winner of this game will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, making it a high-stakes matchup between the top two teams in the Big West. Both programs are seeking their first NCAA tournament appearance in several years, with UC Irvine last making it in 2019 and Hawaii's last trip coming in 2016.

The details

UC Irvine was led by Derin Saran's 23 points, nine rebounds, and four steals in its semifinal win, while Jurian Dixon added 18 points and seven assists, and Kyle Evans scored 15 points. For Hawaii, Isaac Johnson poured in 19 points, Harry Rouhliadeff recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Dre Bullock and Hunter Erickson also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

  • The game will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET.
  • UC Irvine last made the NCAA tournament in 2019, while Hawaii's last appearance was in 2016.

The players

UC Irvine Anteaters

The No. 1 seed in the Big West Conference tournament, seeking their first NCAA tournament bid since 2019.

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

The second-seeded team in the Big West Conference tournament, looking to make their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2016.

Derin Saran

UC Irvine's leading scorer in the semifinal win, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds, and four steals.

Jurian Dixon

UC Irvine guard who contributed 18 points and seven assists in the semifinal victory.

Isaac Johnson

Hawaii's leading scorer in the semifinal game, pouring in 19 points.

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What’s next

The winner of the Hawaii vs. UC Irvine matchup will earn an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

The takeaway

This championship game between the top two seeds in the Big West Conference tournament promises to be an exciting and high-stakes affair, with both programs seeking their first NCAA tournament appearance in several years.