UC Irvine’s Basketball Season Closes With First-Round NIT Loss at Utah

UC Irvine’s Basketball Season Closes With First-Round NIT Loss at Utah
Deivon Smith (5) and Ben Carlson (1) of the Utah Utes pressure Derin Saran (1) of the UC Irvine Anteaters during the first half of their NIT first round game in Salt Lake City on March 19, 2024. Chris Gardner/Getty Images
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SALT LAKE CITY—UC Irvine’s men’s basketball season came to an end Tuesday night, March 19, at the hands of Utah in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament.

The Anteaters, who won the regular-season Big West Conference championship before falling to Long Beach State in the semifinals of the conference tournament, dropped an 84–75 decision to the Utes.