LONG BEACH, Calif. — In an exciting matchup on Thursday night, UC Irvine secured an impressive 80-75 overtime win against Long Beach State, with standout performances from Myles Che and Devin Tillis.

Che, who led the Anteaters, contributed significantly with 20 points, completing 7 of 16 field goals and sinking all four of his free-throw attempts. The Anteaters, now boasting a record of 19-3 and sitting at 9-1 in the Big West Conference, benefitted from Tillis’ timely play. He finished the night with 18 points and five rebounds, notably netting a crucial 3-pointer just 26 seconds into overtime that shifted the momentum in favor of UC Irvine. Justin Hohn also made his mark by connecting on three 3-pointers for a total of 13 points.

On the other side, Long Beach State, currently at 7-15 and 3-7 in conference play, saw Devin Askew lead his team with 18 points and eight assists. His efforts were complemented by TJ Wainwright, who contributed 14 points along with six rebounds and four assists, while Kam Martin also chipped in with 14 points.

The regulation time concluded in a deadlock after a pair of free throws by Bent Leuchten brought UC Irvine level at 68 with just over a minute left to play, setting the stage for an intense overtime battle.