ANAHEIM CLASSIC

UC Irvine (2-1) vs. Mississippi State (2-1)

Anaheim Classic, first round

11 a.m. at Anaheim Convention Center

TV: ESPN U; Radio: KUCI/88.9 FM

BREAKDOWN: The Anteaters are led by 6-foot-8 junior post Kevin Bland, who leads the team in scoring (15.3 per game), rebounds (5.3 per game), steals (3.0 per contest) and field-goal percentage (65.5%) … Adam Rodenberg (6-7, Jr., F) is averaging 11 ppg, while Michael Hunter (5-10, So., PG) is averaging 9.7 points and 4.0 assists … Mississippi State, the defending Southeastern Conference West Division champion picked by media to finish second in the division this season, is led by All-American candidate Jamont Gordon (6-4, Jr., G), who is averaging 18 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists … Charles Rhodes (6-9, Sr., F) is averaging 16.3 points and 6.0 rebounds, Ben Hansbrough (6-3, So., G) is averaging 12.3 points and is eight of 16 on three-pointers, Barry Stewart (6-2, So., G) is averaging 11.3 points and 7.0 rebounds, and Jarvis Varnado (6-9, So., C) is averaging 11 rebounds and five blocked shots … The Bulldogs have averaged 81 points and limited foes to 31.4% field-goal shooting … MSU is averaging 49 rebounds, while UCI has been outrebounded, 106-76, this season … The Anteaters are shooting 87.8% from the free-throw line (36 of 41) ... MSU has blocked 29 shots … This is the first meeting between the two programs … Today’s winner plays Friday at noon against Southern Illinois-UT Chattanooga winner … Today’s loser plays Friday at 2:30 p.m. against So. Illinois-Chattanooga loser.

— Barry Faulkner