UC Davis To Battle Pacific On ESPNU

Jan. 20, 2010

DAVIS, Calif. - For the second time this season, the UC Davis men's basketball team will play before a national television audience when it takes on Pacific Saturday night in Stockton. The Aggies and Tigers will square off at 7 p.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Center. In addition to ESPNU, the game is also available on KFSG 1690-AM as well as www.ucdavisaggies.com.

UC Davis enters the game 7-10 overall and 3-2 in the Big West. The Aggies are coming off a thrilling 79-77 victory over visiting UC Irvine on Jan. 14. In that contest, Dominic Calegari tied a career-high with 28 points, and Mark Payne added 23. Calegari went a perfect 10-10 from the field and became the 16th Aggie to score 1,000 career points. He scored 21 points in the second half alone while playing in his 100th career game. Payne returned to the lineup after missing three straight games and went 14-for-16 from the free throw line. The game featured 17 lead changes and 10 ties. UC Davis built a 13-point lead early in the second half only to see UC Irvine storm back and eventually take a two-point lead. The Aggies trailed 70-68 with four minutes left but used a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead for good.

Payne leads the Big West in scoring (17.6 ppg.) while Calegari is third (16.8 ppg.). Joe Harden is 10th with 13.5 ppg. and is fourth in rebounding (7.2 rpg.). Payne also leads the Big West in field goal percentage, steals and minutes per game.

The Aggies enter the game in fourth place in the Big West. Pacific leads the conference with a 4-1 record while UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly are tied for second at 4-2. The Tigers have won four of their last five games, including an 80-73 victory against Cal State Fullerton Thursday night at home. Pacific is undefeated (8-0) this season at the Spanos Center. Junior Sam Willard leads the team with 9.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. A total of five Tigers are averaging between 8.1 and 9.7 points per game.

Pacific leads the all-time series, 76-10, including both regular season wins a year ago and another in the Big West Tournament.

The game is just the second for the Aggies since they closed out a stretch of four games in nine days on Jan. 10. It's also the first of three straight on the road.

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