UC Irvine Anteaters vs North Dakota State Bison Picks and Prediction for Sunday, December 21, 2025

By: Jake Allman Updated 12/21/2025, 12:33 AM ET

The UC Irvine Anteaters and North Dakota State Bison meet Sunday night at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, with tip-off at 7:00 PM ET and streaming on YouTube. This neutral-site matchup features two teams playing solid basketball, with UC Irvine at 7-5 and North Dakota State at 10-3. ESPN Analytics gives UC Irvine a slight edge at 55.6 percent, but recent results suggest a competitive game that should stay close into the final minutes. Big board, bigger value — see our winning college basketball predictions.

UC Irvine Preview

UC Irvine enters averaging 77.8 points per game while allowing just 65.6, a gap that has fueled several strong performances this season. The Anteaters rebound well at 42.1 boards per game and block 6.8 shots, giving the frontcourt a consistent presence. Jurian Dixon leads the offense with 15.4 points per game and shoots 39.3 percent from three, while Kyle Evans adds 7.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per contest. UC Irvine won four of the last five games before an 84-58 loss to Belmont, a result that stands out but does not erase a productive stretch overall.

Ball movement has been steady for UC Irvine, which averages 17.1 assists per game and shoots 45.7 percent from the field. Tama Isaac runs the offense with 4.1 assists per game, though turnovers at 12.2 per game remain an area to monitor. The Anteaters have shown the ability to manage tempo and win the rebounding battle, which becomes important against faster-paced opponents. That rebounding edge could dictate how this game unfolds late.

North Dakota State Preview

North Dakota State comes in riding a five-game winning streak and scoring 82.6 points per game on the season. The Bison are aggressive, forcing 10.0 steals per game and shooting 45.2 percent from the floor. Damari Wheeler-Thomas leads the team at 14.9 points per game, while Markhi Strickland contributes 14.5 points on a 64.0 percent shooting rate. Trevian Carson adds balance with 11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game.

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Recent road wins over Drake and Montana show North Dakota State can handle neutral or hostile environments. The Bison allow 69.5 points per game and rebound at 36.9 per contest, which could be tested against a bigger UC Irvine lineup. If North Dakota State does not generate extra possessions through turnovers, scoring may become more difficult.

North Dakota State vs UC Irvine Prediction

This matchup points toward a tight contest where UC Irvine’s rebounding and interior defense provide a small but meaningful edge. The Anteaters should be able to slow the pace late and limit second-chance looks. The prediction is UC Irvine winning 78-74.

Best bets lean toward UC Irvine on the moneyline, given the advantage on the glass and points allowed. The total also trends slightly over, as both teams average strong offensive numbers and play with confidence. Betting on sports and on North Dakota State is easy, but even easier if you use the best sportsbooks. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for UC Irvine with the Novig promo code. Make sure when you place your bet on UC Irvine vs North Dakota State you are using the BetMGM bonus code.

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