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UC Davis basketball fans 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!  
 
 
DAVIS, Calif. – Junior communication major Matt Neufeld led all Aggies with 10 points, senior communication major TJ Shorts II added another nine, junior communication major Stefan Gonzalez and senior economics major Garrison Goode finished with eight points — the latter also collected a season-high six rebounds — in Thursday's Big West Conference home game, televised by ESPNU.
 
UC Irvine did not record a field goal for six minutes and 21 seconds in the second half, and UC Davis remained within striking distance, but shots simply did not fall for the Aggies as they dropped the first of their season-ending four-game homestand by a 64-48 score.
 
"We had our chances, we had some great looks at the basket," said UC Davis head coach Jim Les. "From layups to threes, the ball would fall halfway in before coming out. That happens, but we let what took place on one end of the court affect the way we played defensively, and they got some separation."
 
UC Davis will enter Saturday's 7 p.m. home game against Cal State Fullerton with a 10-17 overall and 6-7 Big West record, UC Irvine will continue its season at 24-5 and 12-1.
 
Down by 10 with 3:24 left until halftime, the Aggies enjoyed a 6-0 scoring run that began in the final minutes of the first half, and carried over to the start of the second. That allowed them to remain close to the Anteaters until they started to pull away as the game progressed. 
 
However, the Aggies' defense did prevent UCI from recording a field goal for more than six minutes midway through the second half; following that shooting drought, UC Davis held UC Irvine scoreless for more than three minutes. But an 11-1 scoring run helped the visitors build a cushion that lasted until the game ended.
 
Thursday's televised matchup was an anomaly for the Aggies, a team that entered the Pavilion with the highest home win percentage among all Big West teams since the 2014-15 season. A big reason for the team's success in recent seasons is the UC Davis faithful, one that was raucous from the opening tip throughout the entire evening.
 
"I thought the crowd and the students were awesome," said Les. "I thought it was a great atmosphere."
 
 
 
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.