Jan. 15, 2006

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Phil Rasmussen posted game highs with 18 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn't enough as UC Davis was defeated by UC Santa Barbara, 64-50, Sunday afternoon at The Pavilion. The Aggies trailed virtually the entire game as the Gauchos used 59 percent shooting and picked up their first road win of the season. Rommel Marentez and Jesse Lopez Low each added eight points for the Aggies while Joe See led the Gauchos with 12 points.

Both teams struggled early on, as UCSB led just 10-5 near the midway point of the first half. The Gauchos (7-8) owned a 5-0 lead at the 17:35 mark before the Aggies got on the board with a Vince Oliver jumper four minutes into the game. A See three-pointer gave UCSB an 8-2 lead before UC Davis (5-11) mounted an 8-2 run. It started and ended with three-pointers by Rasmussen, tying the game at 10-10 with 7:46 remaining in the half.

UC Santa Barbara regained the lead on a Chris Devine jumper at the 7:13 mark, ending a drought of over seven minutes for the Gauchos without a field goal. Oliver responded on the next possession with a three-pointer to give the Aggies a 13-12 lead, their only advantage of the afternoon.

It would then be the Aggies' turn for struggles from the field, as they would make just two more field goals the remainder of the half. In the process, the Gauchos outscored UC Davis 15-7 and led 27-20 at the break.

Both teams were fruitful from beyond the arc in the first half. The Gauchos made five of their six attempts while the Aggies went 4-for-5. Turnovers hurt UC Davis in the first 20 minutes, as the Aggies committed 11.

In the second half, UCSB opened up a 32-22 lead two minutes in before the Aggies came back with five straight points. A Marentez three-pointer at the 17:00 mark made it 32-27. The Gauchos then put together a 14-4 run, increasing their lead to 46-31 with 11:57 to play.

UC Davis cut into the deficit when a Marentez bucket at the 9:17 mark made it 48-37, but that's as close as the Aggies would get. The Gauchos went on an 11-2 run and led 59-39 with 4:05 left in the game. The final score was as close as UC Davis would get the rest of the way.

"The game had no continuity or flow to it, and so it's a credit to Santa Barbara. They just flat-out played through it, and we weren't able to," said UC Davis head coach Gary Stewart.

UC Santa Barbara shot 64 percent in the second half and also outrebouded UC Davis, 28-23. Despite its first half turnovers, the Aggies responded in the second half with only one miscue.

UC Davis returns to action Jan. 19 when it takes on Cal State Northridge on the road. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game can be heard live on KSAC 1240-AM and www.ucdavisaggies.com.