Lincoln University (CA) vs UC Irvine prediction: Rebuilt UC Irvine tunes up its new rotation against Lincoln
The Big West preseason favorite returns only 41.2% of last season's minutes, and a non-Division I visitor gives Russell Turner a low-stakes look before Stanford.
- Expect a lopsided home win; the real interest is how UC Irvine's new pieces fit together.
- Watch who replaces Kyle Evans as the rim protector, including 7-9 center signee Olivier Rioux.
- No spread or total is posted yet; UC Irvine beat Lincoln 130-63 in last season's meeting.
A defense rebuilding its spine
UC Irvine's identity last season was defense. The Anteaters went 23-12 and allowed 95.5 points per 100 possessions, 2nd of 365 nationally. Opponents shot 42.2% inside the arc, the lowest mark in Division I.
Much of that wall is gone. Kyle Evans, who blocked 3.2 shots a game, left for NC State. Leading scorer Jurian Dixon (15.9 points per game) is now at Virginia. Players on this season's roster logged just 41.2% of last season's minutes, so last year's team numbers are a loose guide.
The headline addition is Olivier Rioux, a 7-9 center who signed in April. How much he plays, and how he moves, is the first thing to watch against an overmatched front line.
Who carries the scoring now
Nils Cooper arrives from UC Davis, where he scored 12.3 points per game last season on 57.2% effective field goal shooting (a measure that counts threes 1.5 times). He is the likeliest candidate to absorb Dixon's shots.
Harrison Carrington was the most efficient returner last season, shooting 58.3% from the field off the bench. Tama Isaac started all 35 games and handed out 3.8 assists per game. This was a team that rarely shot threes last season, ranking 361st in 3-point attempt rate, and a game like this shows whether that changes.
Setting and stakes
Lincoln University (CA), the Oaklanders, is not a Division I program, and nothing is known about their roster this season. Last season's meeting was a 130-63 rout in which UC Irvine out-rebounded Lincoln 55-21.
The Anteaters already rolled past UQAM 101-70 in an October exhibition. The bigger date is Nov. 17 at Stanford, so expect Turner to spread minutes. No injury or eligibility news had surfaced for either team as of this week.
Key players
- Nils Cooper (UC Irvine): Scored 12.3 points per game at UC Davis last season on 57.2% effective shooting.
- Harrison Carrington (UC Irvine): Posted a 125.5 offensive rating last season, best among UC Irvine's returners.
- Tama Isaac (UC Irvine): Started all 35 games last season and averaged 3.8 assists.
- Jovan Jester Jr. (UC Irvine): Hit 37.5% of his threes off the bench last season.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 41.2% | Share of last season's minutes played by players on this roster, so last year's team stats only partly apply. |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive efficiency rank, last season | 2nd | UC Irvine allowed 95.5 points per 100 possessions in 2025-26. |
| Opponent 2-point %, last season | 42.2% | Lowest in Division I; shot-blocker Kyle Evans, who blocked 3.2 shots a game, has departed. |
| Last season's meeting | 130-63 | UC Irvine also won the boards 55-21 against Lincoln. |
Lincoln University (CA) vs UC Irvine: quick answers
When is Lincoln University (CA) vs UC Irvine?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET.