Feb. 28, 2010

Final Stats

DAVIS, Calif. - Mark Payne scored a game-high 19 points, and senior Dominic Calegari added 18 in his last collegiate home game as UC Davis dominated UC Riverside, 66-43, in a Big West Conference game Sunday afternoon at The Pavilion. The Aggies used a 24-7 run in the second half to pull away from UCR and improve to 12-16 overall and 7-7 in the Big West.

UC Davis stifled UCR (12-16, 5-10 Big West) early on with a 14-2 lead to start the game. The Highlanders eventually trailed by just four at the half and closed within 28-27 early in the second half. The Aggies then dominated the rest of the way by outscoring the Highlanders, 38-16.

Calegari, who was honored prior to the game as part of Senior Day, shot 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. Freshman Ryan Sypkens played a pivotal role in igniting the second half run. He scored all 14 of his points in a five-minute stretch early in the period. He made four three-pointers during the barrage, and his last trey gave the Aggies a 42-29 lead with 14:32 to play.

After the Highlanders closed within 43-34, UC Davis put together a 9-0 blitz to lead 52-34 at the 8:41 mark. From that point, the Aggies built as much as a 25-point lead.

UC Davis shot 48 percent from the field and 55 percent from beyond the arc. UC Riverside finished 32 percent for the day and just 5-for-20 from long range. The Aggies outrebounded the Highlanders, 34-30. Todd Lowenthal finished with a game-high 11 rebounds and six assists.

Kyle Austin and Lateef McMullan each led UC Riverside with eight points. UC Davis held Austin well below his Big West-leading scoring average of 18.3 ppg.

It was all UC Davis early on as the Aggies led 14-2 by the 11:10 mark of the first half. Payne had five points, including a three-pointer, during the stretch. At the other end, the Highlanders missed 12 of their first 13 field goal attempts before making their second basket with 9:12 left in the half.

UC Davis led 18-7 with just under six minutes remaining in the period after a Payne layup. UCR then went on an 11-2 run over the next four minutes and pulled within 20-18 with 1:48 left. The Aggies went to the half with a 25-21 lead.

Calegari scored 13 of his 18 points in the decisive second half. He made four treys in the final period. The senior is 11th all-time in scoring with 1,198 points.

Joe Harden finished with nine points and eight rebounds.

The win moved the Aggies back into fourth place in the Big West with two games to play. The Aggies are currently 7-7 and trail third-place Cal State Fullerton at 8-6. UC Davis owns a half-game lead over both Long Beach State and Cal Poly, who are both 7-8.

UC Davis is back in action Thursday night when it takes on Cal State Northridge on the road. The Aggies will then close out their regular season Saturday at Cal State Fullerton.