Follow UC Davis: Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Facebook
 
UC Davis basketball fans have enjoyed two perfect home records in the last four seasons, and watched the Aggies win three Big West titles throughout that same timespan. Create a home court advantage like no other, purchase your tickets for a men's basketball home game today!  
 
 
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – UC Davis led for more than 32 minutes of Friday's non-conference game in Bloomington, Indiana, knocked Indiana on its heels thanks to its trademark defense, ball movement, patience and discipline while on offense. And the crowd of 13,562 never had a chance to relax until a string of three consecutive Hoosier threes gave them a late lead in a game IU won by a 76-62 score.
 
"That's a good basketball team, but I am really proud of those guys. This was a huge quantum leap forward in terms of who we need to be. I thought our defense early was the aggressor, and created offense for us. We really disrupted a lot of things Indiana wanted to do," said UC Davis head coach Jim Les.
 
After a busy portion of their schedule that included four games within the last seven days, the Aggies will have nearly a week off before returning to action, and will enter Thursday's home matchup vs. Northern Arizona, its first game in the Pavilion since Nov. 9, with a 1-6 record.
 
With its result, Indiana remains undefeated in home — it opened the year with five of its first six games on campus — and will continue its season with a 5-1 mark.
 
"This is one of the special places in college basketball and one of the storied programs," said Les regarding the Aggies' first head-to-head game against Indiana and appearance at Assembly Hall. We were proud to give Indiana a taste of UC Davis basketball, hopefully we will have a chance to return."
 
Senior communication major TJ Shorts II scored the first two of his team-high 16 points just under two minutes after tipoff, which gave the Aggies a lead they held the entire first half.
 
Both Indiana, and the Hoosier faithful in attendance witnessed the Aggies' trademark defense firsthand, and saw why UC Davis won three league titles in the last four seasons, and posted as many 20-win seasons throughout that same block of time.
 
In addition to scoring 14 of its 38 points in the paint, UC Davis scored another eight points off eight Hoosier turnovers, which helped them take a two-point lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Every time Indiana made a run, the Aggies answered with another of their own. If it wasn't senior psychology major AJ John draining one three-pointer after another — three of his four buckets in the first half were hit from distance — it was Shorts II slashing his way through IU's defense, scoring 12 points before the break.
 
"We knew AJ is a good shooter … he also does the little things to become active defensively and on the boards. He was sprinting everywhere and setting great screens; when you do all those little things, the ball just finds you, and in turn, it finds the basket," said Les.
 
Led by senior economics major Garrison Goode, who entered halftime with three rebounds and was one of seven players responsible for a collective 13 rebounds, UC Davis also won the rebound battle, finishing with three more that IU and two more that its opponent on the offensive glass (6-4).
 
As the game progressed, one team would piece together a scoring run, followed by a matching one by the other. Throughout a majority of the second half, it was the Aggies who still held the lead, and more than held their own against the Hoosiers. But it was a two-minute portion of the homestretch that Indiana hit three straight threes, which turned its deficit into a lead it held for the remainder of the night.
 
Aiding IU, in addition to a quick scoring spurt, was its ability to hit free throws late, since it earned 17 more shots at the stripe than UC Davis. The Aggies hit all four of its attempts, but only earned two trips each half.
 
Another bright spot for the Aggies was the play of their bench, responsible for all 10 points posted by either team's reserves.
 
"The execution was outstanding, and it was everybody. Guys came off the bench and we didn't skip a beat. That's who we need to be; we need to continue to build on this and sustain it for a full 40 minutes. And when we are able to accomplish that, we are going to be a tough out."
 
Les added, "I am really proud of this team. We need to get some rest, get back to work and try to start another home winning streak."
 

 
AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation.
 
Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis.
 
Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
 
CREATE A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE LIKE NO OTHER
UC Davis basketball fans have watched the Aggies win three championships and enjoy two undefeated seasons inside the Pavilion in the last four years. Don't miss out on another historic season, click here to purchase your season tickets today!
 
TOGETHER, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING
Directly impact the lives of potential, and current UC Davis basketball student-athletes, by joining the Aggie Round Table.
 
With support from this select group of insiders, the men's basketball program can expand its recruiting efforts to find prospects who will thrive at the fifth-ranked public school in the nation, compete at a championship level and represent the University in a first-class manner as one of its ambassadors. 
 
Contact Liz Martin (Assistant Athletics Director, Leadership Giving & Alumni Engagement) at (530) 574-8623 or emartin@ucdavis.edu to find out how you can join this exclusive club!
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley.
 
The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.