The UC Irvine Anteaters men’s basketball team was founded in 1965, with Jack Traves as the first head coach. The team began playing at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) level before moving up to the Division I level in 1977. The Anteaters have made four NCAA Tournament appearances, in 1986, 2015, 2019, and 2021.

In 1986, the Anteaters earned their first NCAA Tournament berth and were seeded 14th in the West region. They faced the third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini in the first round, but lost 77-59. The 2014-15 Anteaters finished the regular season with a 21-12 record, won the Big West Conference tournament, and earned a 13th seed in the East region of the NCAA Tournament. They faced fourth-seeded Louisville Cardinals in the first round and lost 57-55 in a close game. The 2018-19 Anteaters, led by coach Russell Turner, earned a 13th seed in the South region of the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big West Conference regular season and tournament championships. They faced fourth-seeded Kansas State Wildcats in the first round and won 70-64, earning the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win. In the second round, they faced the fifth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers and won 64-54, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in program history. In the Sweet Sixteen, they faced the top-seeded Oregon Ducks and lost 73-54. In 2021, the Anteaters earned a 14th seed in the West region of the NCAA Tournament but lost to the seventh-seeded USC Trojans in the first round.