UCI’s Turner lauded

UC Irvine’s Russell Turner has been named District 9 Coach of the Year by the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches.

Turner, who just completed his fourth season at the Anteaters’ helm, was one of 25 district honorees in Division I. The Big West Conference Coach of the Year guided UCI to its first regular-season conference title in 12 seasons with a 13-3 Big West record.

The ‘Eaters finished 23-13 after a first-round loss in the NIT. The 23 wins tied for second for the most in UCI single-season annals.

Turner has led UCI to back-to-back 20-win seasons with a combined 44 wins the last two campaigns, both of which ended in postseason tournaments.

— From staff reports