UC Irvine men lose to Hawaii in Big West final, denied another NCAA trip
By Dan Arritt
Published on March 15, 2026.
Hawaii defeated UC Irvine 71-64 in the Big West Tournament final, marking the team's last game as a member of the Big Western Conference. The Rainbow Warriors will be leaving the Big W after 14 years to join the Mountain West Conference in June. They outrebounded UCI 43-39, including 17-13 on the offensive end. Despite a late rally from the Anteaters, Hawaii's Isaac Johnson and Harry Rouhliadeff managed to put Hawaii ahead. The loss leaves UCI without another NCAA Tournament appearance. The team is likely headed to the 32-team NIT.
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