Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs. UC Irvine Anteaters Battle for Big West Title

Two of the Big West's top defensive teams meet in the conference championship game on Saturday.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:06am

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The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and UC Irvine Anteaters will face off in the Big West Championship game on Saturday night in Henderson, Nevada. Both teams reached the conference finale with comfortable wins in Friday's semifinals, setting up a high-stakes trilogy bout for the Big West crown and a trip to March Madness. Hawaii enters the game on a bounce-back campaign after finishing below .500 last season, while UC Irvine is looking to capture its third Big West title and first since 2019.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top defensive teams in the country, with both squads ranking inside the nation's top 50 in KenPom's defensive rating. The game will likely come down to which team can impose its will on the defensive end and limit the opposing offense.

The details

Hawaii enters the game with the third-most fouls drawn in the country and a dominant seven-foot senior in Isaac Johnson, who shoots nearly 90% from the free-throw line. UC Irvine, meanwhile, employs a methodical offense but thrives on the defensive end, led by Big West Best Defensive Player Kyle Evans and his nation-leading 3.3 blocks per game.

  • The teams split their regular-season meetings, with Hawaii winning 67-66 at home on January 10 and UC Irvine answering with an 87-76 overtime victory on January 29.
  • Tipoff for the Big West Championship game is set for 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Isaac Johnson

A seven-foot senior and All-Big West First Team member who shoots nearly 90% from the free-throw line and anchors Hawaii's dominant defense.

Kyle Evans

The Big West Best Defensive Player who leads the nation with 3.3 blocks per game and is the catalyst for UC Irvine's stifling defense.

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What they’re saying

“Points should remain at a premium in Saturday's championship showdown between two of the top defenses in the country.”

— Cooper Albers, Author

What’s next

The winner of the Big West Championship game will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the loser will await their fate on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the Big West's top defensive teams promises to be a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair, with the team that can impose its will on the defensive end likely emerging victorious and punching their ticket to the Big Dance.