Dec. 18, 2007

Final Stats

DAVIS, Calif. - Kyle Brucculeri scored 19 points, and Mark Payne added a career-high 18 to lead UC Davis to a 76-63 victory over Presbyterian College Monday night at The Pavilion. Vince Oliver finished with 10 points as the Aggies battled back from a nine-point first half deficit to even their record at 5-5. Al'Lonzo Coleman led the Blue Hose with 19 points as Presbyterian fell to 1-12.

UC Davis trailed 27-18 with 8:07 left in the first half before leading by three at the break. The Aggies outscored the Blue Hose, 23-9, in the first 10:33 of the second half and led 62-45 with 9:27 to go. The Blue Hose rallied to within 65-58 with 4:13 left before the Aggies closed the door with an 11-2 run.

Brucculeri finished the night 6-for-11 from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Payne was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 7-for-7 from the line. The freshman also added five rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Shane Hanson led the Aggies and the game with seven rebounds. David Carter scored nine points while Jesse Lopez Low and C.J. Portz came off the bench with four points.

After the Aggies opened the game with a 4-0 lead, the Blue Hose ran off 10 straight points for a 10-4 lead at the 15:44 mark. They built their nine-point lead before UC Davis responded with a 13-2 run, capped off by Brucculeri's second trey, and led 31-29. A 5-0 burst by the Blue Hose swung the lead back to the visitors before the Aggies closed the half with an 8-2 run.

UC Davis started the second half by steadily increasing its lead. A deep three-pointer by Brucculeri from the top of the key made it 45-38 at the 17:05 mark. The junior made a pair of free throws with 13:22 left to give the Aggies a 51-40 lead. After a field goal by Bryan Bostic cut the deficit to eight, the Aggies went on an 11-2 run. Oliver scored six of his points during the stretch, including a three-pointer and three free throws.

"The defense tonight was much better in the second half than the last time out," said UC Davis head coach Gary Stewart. "We were able to get some stops, and that translated into offensive opportunities and we were able to get some separation. That doesn't happen if you don't defend, rebound and take care of the ball, and we did all three of those things."

UC Davis finished the night shooting 53 percent from the field, including 63 percent in the first half. The Aggies held the Blue Hose to 48 percent for the game and 38 percent in the second half. UC Davis outrebounded Presbyterian, 29-24.

The win allowed the Aggies to equal their win total of a year ago. It also improved the team to 5-1 at home.

UC Davis is next in action Friday when it faces Jackson State on the road.