# 1987–88 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team

The 1987–88 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team represented the University of California, Irvine during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Anteaters were led by eighth year head coach Bill Mulligan and played at the Bren Events Center. They were members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. They finished the season 14–14, 9–9 in PCAA play and reached the PCAA Tournament finals for the first time.

## Previous season

The 1986–87 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team finished the season with a record of 14–14 and 9–9 in PCAA play. They were eliminated in the first round of the PCAA Tournament by Cal State Fullerton.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-Conference Season ||||||
| November 27, 1987* | Army Freedom Bowl Classic | W 90–68 | 1–0 | Bren Events Center (1,469) Irvine, CA |
| November 28, 1987* | Manhattan Freedom Bowl Classic | W 86–83 | 2–0 | Bren Events Center (1,787) Irvine, CA |
| December 1, 1987* | at Pepperdine | L 89–91 | 2–1 | Firestone Fieldhouse (2,077) Malibu, CA |
| December 4, 1987* | vs. Jacksonville Hawkeye Classic | W 76–73 | 3–1 | Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) Iowa City, IA |
| December 5, 1987* | at Iowa Hawkeye Classic | L 88–124 | 3–2 | Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) Iowa City, IA |
| December 11, 1987* | Pennsylvania | W 90–66 | 4–2 | Bren Events Center (2,167) Irvine, CA |
| December 14, 1987* | New Orleans | W 93–91 | 5–2 | Bren Events Center (1,940) Irvine, CA |
| December 17, 1987* | at UCLA | L 100–116 | 5–3 | Pauley Pavilion (6,735) Los Angeles, CA |
| December 19, 1987* | at Bradley | L 119–139 | 5–4 | Carver Arena (8,911) Peoria, IL |
| Conference Season ||||||
| January 4, 1988 | UC Santa Barbara | L 78–81 | 5–5 (0–1) | Bren Events Center (3,005) Irvine, CA |
| January 7, 1988 | at Cal State Fullerton | W 81–73 | 6–5 (1–1) | Titan Gym (3,106) Fullerton, CA |
| January 9, 1988 | at No. 13 UNLV | L 68–103 | 6–6 (1–2) | Thomas & Mack Center (15,506) Paradise, NV |
| January 14, 1988 | Utah State | W 87–81 | 7–6 (2–2) | Bren Events Center (2,863) Irvine, CA |
| January 16, 1988 | San Jose State | W 98–77 | 8–6 (3–2) | Bren Events Center (3,438) Irvine, CA |
| January 21, 1988 | at Pacific | W 87–80 | 9–6 (4–2) | Alex G. Spanos Center (2,724) Stockton, CA |
| January 23, 1988 | at Fresno State | L 67–71 | 9–7 (4–3) | Selland Arena (10,159) Fresno, CA |
| January 28, 1988 | at Long Beach State | L 80–100 | 9–8 (4–4) | Bren Events Center (3,277) Irvine, CA |
| January 30, 1988 | New Mexico State | W 79–62 | 10–8 (5–4) | Bren Events Center (1,507) Irvine, CA |
| February 4, 1988 | No. 2 UNLV | L 77–99 | 10–9 (5–5) | Bren Events Center (5,000) Irvine, CA |
| February 6, 1988 | Cal State Fullerton | L 77–99 | 11–9 (6–5) | Bren Events Center (2,547) Irvine, CA |
| February 13, 1988 | at Utah State | L 83–102 | 11–10 (6–6) | Smith Spectrum (8,162) Logan, UT |
| February 15, 1988 | at San Jose State | W 63–55 | 12–10 (7–6) | San Jose Civic Auditorium (1,574) San Jose, CA |
| February 18, 1988 | Fresno State | W 82–78 $^{OT}$ | 13–10 (8–6) | Bren Events Center (2,053) Irvine, CA |
| February 20, 1988 | Pacific | W 85–81 | 14–10 (9–6) | Bren Events Center (3,153) Irvine, CA |
| February 25, 1988 | at New Mexico State | L 59–75 | 14–11 (9–7) | Pan American Center (4,853) Las Cruces, NM |
| February 28, 1988 | at Long Beach State | L 90–98 | 14–12 (9–8) | Gold Mine (2,537) Long Beach, CA |
| March 5, 1988 | at UC Santa Barbara | L 77–83 | 14–13 (9–9) | UC Santa Barbara Events Center (6,000) Santa Barbara, CA |
| PCAA tournament ||||||
| March 10, 1988 | vs. Long Beach State Quarterfinals | W 74–69 | 15–13 | The Forum (2,000) Inglewood, CA |
| March 11, 1988 | vs. No. 7 UNLV Semifinals | W 74–70 | 16–13 | The Forum (12,066) Inglewood, CA |
| March 13, 1988 | vs. Utah State Championship Game | L 79–86 | 16–14 | The Forum (7,994) Inglewood, CA |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Pacific Time. ||||||
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