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DAVIS, Calif. - In addition to earning its third Big West title and postseason appearance in the last four years, UC Davis ended the 2017-18 season with top national statistics in numerous team and individual categories.

As has been the case throughout the Jim Les era, UC Davis' defense has been ranked No. 1 in the conference, and last season's numbers proved why. No BWC team did a better job forcing turnovers than the Aggies, who ranked No. 21 among all 351 Division I programs, with its 15.42 per game average.

No conference team came close to matching UC Davis' other league-high figures, which includes turnover margin (No. 40, +2.4), three-point field goal percentage defense (No. 40, .324), steals per game (No. 75, 7.0) and total steals (No. 82, 231). Combined with its scoring defense, which limited other teams to an average of 67.1 points per game, UC Davis' defense successfully strengthened its national reputation as the toughest to face among all Big West squads.

An impressive debut season for junior guard TJ Shorts II, who became the first player in Big West history named Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, included top 60 rankings in four NCAA categories.

His basketball instincts, and aggressive play, were key reasons why Shorts II earned 212 trips to the free throw line, ranking the Tustin native No. 39 in this category. The All-Big West First Team selection did a phenomenal job capitalizing on those opportunities by scoring 158 points at the charity stripe.

That free throws made total was the 55th-highest in the country.

Shorts II's quick hands is one of numerous reasons why the Aggies' defense gave opponents fits throughout the year; his 63 total steals and 1.91 steals per game were league-high stats that ranked him No. 42 and No. 46 respectively compared to his D-I peers.

Forward Chima Moneke also ended the year with a top NCAA figure thanks to his 11 double-doubles, which led to a No. 59 ranking in this category.

Thanks to its elite defense and success on offense last season, UC Davis won its third Big West Conference title in the last four seasons, which is why the Aggies are one of the successful mid-major programs in the country.

With three players from this year's team graduating, UC Davis' 2018-19 roster will feature one of the most experienced groups in the league. Including four starters, eight returning letterwinners and five players who redshirted this past season will compete for the Aggies when action resumes this fall.


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 sixth-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 (Director of Development) at (530) 574-8623 or emartin@ucdavis.edu to find out how you can join this exclusive club!