Jan. 13, 2006
Box Score
DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis won its second straight game against a future Big West Conference opponent in a 65-52 victory over visiting Cal Poly Friday evening at The Pavilion. The Aggies led virtually the entire game and held the Mustangs to just 31 percent from the field. Rommel Marentez led UC Davis with a game-high 16 points. Kyle Brucculeri added 12 while Thomas Juillerat scored 11 off the bench. Derek Stockalper led Cal Poly with 14 points.
In the first half, UC Davis (5-10) took early control. After Cal Poly (4-11) scored the first two points in the opening possession, the Aggies put together a 10-0 run over the next seven minutes and led 10-2 at the 12:58 mark. Marentez scored five points in the stretch, and Juillerat added four while the Mustangs missed nine straight field goals in the face of the UC Davis defense.
Cal Poly came back to within 12-11 with 8:42 remaining in the half before the Aggies regained as much as a seven-point lead at the 3:49 mark. UC Davis led 27-21 at the half.
The Aggies started the second half much the same way as the first. Its defense forced Cal Poly into nine turnovers in the first 6:13. In the meantime, UC Davis was busy building a 15-point lead. A pull-up jumper by Phil Rasmussen on the right side gave the Aggies a 38-23 lead at the 13:20 mark. The Mustangs didn't make their first field goal of the half until seven minutes in.
UC Davis led by as many as 15 two more times and never allowed Cal Poly to get closer than nine.
"I thought our defensive intensity and concentration was as good as it has been all year, and I think you can attribute that to playing five teams already this season that played in the post-season a year ago," said UC Davis head coach Gary Stewart.
"I think that's really helped us," Stewart added. "What doesn't break you makes you stronger, and I think we've really gained an understanding of what we can do and how we need to play to be successful. Our young guys are growing up."
Cal Poly's 52 points and 31 percent field goal percentage are both season lows for an Aggie opponent this year. The win was the third straight for UC Davis against the Mustangs.
In addition to the three Aggies who finished in double-figures, Rasmussen and Vince Oliver each scored nine. Jesse Lopez Low grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
UC Davis next hosts UC Santa Barbara Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The game will air on KSAC 1240-AM and can also be heard and watched at www.ucdavisaggies.com.
