ANAHEIM, CALIF. » A season of ups and downs could well produce one more change of direction for Hawaii in time for its first Big West Conference tournament.

Against UC Irvine in today’s first-round matchup, it won’t be easy to reverse field. UH (17-13) needs this game — and two more in the next two days — for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2002.

"We know this is it," senior swingman Hauns Brereton said. "This is where college basketball leads to. We know we have to bring it all, 100 percent, full throttle. That’s our mind-set. We gotta get it done."

UH coach Gib Arnold and UC Irvine coach Russell Turner each believe his team has a matchup advantage today, saying as much during this week’s tournament conference call.

They’re both correct. Fifth-seeded UH and fourth-seeded Irvine (18-14) will look to exploit their strongest attributes — interior play for the ‘Bows, and perimeter shooting and stingy defense for the Anteaters.

"It’s a new season. There’s an added excitement that comes with that," Arnold said. "I’m hoping our size and strength can wear people down in this tournament, and our guards can knock down some shots."

The teams split the regular-season series, with each winning on its home court. However, both games came down to the final few possessions.

"Their size is a factor, clearly," Turner said. "As Gib said, he felt like (UH) matched up well with us. I feel the same thing (for my team). It’s going to be a really fine matchup. It’s going to be a real good college basketball game. … Probably go down to the wire, decided by a play or two here or there."

After losing 78-72 in Honolulu on Feb. 9, UC Irvine rattled off five straight wins and has won six of seven.

UH went the other way, dropping four of six, a slump that has coincided with the injury loss of starting shooting guard Brandon Spearman, who isn’t expected to play this week.

UH’s recent history in this setting hasn’t been pretty. The ‘Bows have lost seven of their past eight conference tournament games going back to 2005.

The breakthrough, at least for a round, happened last season, when Arnold’s sixth-seeded Warriors defeated third-seeded Idaho 72-70 in the Western Athletic Conference quarterfinals.

Brereton hit a baseline jumper with three seconds left to win that one. UH ended its tenure in the WAC with a semifinal loss to New Mexico State the next day.

Breaking through over three days in this guard-oriented league could prove just as difficult for the ‘Bows.

In UH’s 10 Big West wins, opponents averaged 7.3 3-point makes per game on 33.6 percent shooting. In the eight league losses, opponents sizzled at 46.8 percent shooting from deep and made 10.0 per game. That porous perimeter D made UH last in league play at an astonishing 39.4 percent in 18 games.

Irvine hit nine 3-pointers in each game versus UH on an average of 41.8 percent shooting.

On the other end of the floor, the Anteaters are 17th nationally in field-goal percentage defense at .386.

UH’s advantage is inarguably in the paint. The "Big Three" of 6-10 center Vander Joaquim and 6-8 forwards Christian Standhardinger and Isaac Fotu combined for 47 points in the win at home.

"We have a bit of an advantage inside. I think we have the whole Big West," said Fotu, the Big West Co-Freshman of the Year along with Irvine point guard Alex Young. "Whatever they think, we’re not worried about that. We’re just worried about what we’re doing, and try to prepare as good as possible for this team."

UH hasn’t played Irvine without Spearman, one of the team’s best perimeter defenders who averaged 10 points in the two prior meetings. However, Brereton has stepped up lately with 14.2 ppg over his last 11 games.

Anteaters guard Daman Starring was an All-Big West second-team selection. He averages a team-best 13.3 ppg.

Young holds the Irvine freshman assist record at 132.

Sophomore forward Will Davis II was the league’s best defensive player. He has a conference-best 78 blocks, another Anteaters record.