UC Irvine vs. Eastern Washington

When: Tonight, 7

Where: UCI Bren Events Center

Key Anteaters: Jr. G Darren Moore; Jr. C Zach Atkinson; Jr. F Chad DeCasas.

Key Eagles: Jr. G Benny Valentine; Jr. C Brandon Moore.

Breakdown: The Eagles, 11-19 last season in Coach Kirk Earlywine’s first campaign, are without a pair of projected starters still awaiting eligibility clearance ... Despite being short-handed, the Big Sky Conference unit was tied at 35 at halftime in its 66-50 season-opening loss at Illinois ... UCI dropped its opener, 78-55, at USC Saturday after being within two points until a buzzer-beating three-pointer by the Trojans before halftime ... Valentine, a 5-foot-7 transfer from Texas Tech, had a team-high 14 points in the Eagles’ opener ... The 6-9 Brandon Moore had 13 points and seven rebounds ... Darren Moore, who played in the Big Sky for Northern Colorado in 2006-07, led UCI with 16 points against USC ... DeCasas had a team-high 18 points in an exhibition win over Cal Poly Pomona, but was scoreless and took just one shot in 24 minutes at USC ... These two teams meet again Nov. 30 at Eastern Washington ... UCI plays host to Oregon Friday, the Anteaters’ final home game in nearly a month.

— Barry Faulkner