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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 men's basketball's final home game today!  
 
 
DAVIS, Calif. – Senior communication major TJ Shorts II led all players in Thursday's Big West Conference contest at the Pavilion with a season-high 26 points, earning 11 at the line to post his sixth 20-point game of the season, junior communication major Matt Neufeld scored 12, junior economics major Joe Mooney and senior communication major Siler Schneider added 11 and 10 in the Aggies penultimate game of the regular season.
 
Down by four, Mooney's layup in the paint, hit after spinning around two Rainbow Warriors, pulled UC Davis within two with 95 seconds still left to play. But Hawai'i answered the Aggies' late push by hitting six straight free throws to pull away and earn a 76-69 victory.
 
UC Davis will enter Saturday's 5 p.m. season finale vs. UC Riverside with an 11-18 overall and 7-8 Big West record. Hawai'i will head to Cal State Fullerton for its final regular season game with records of 17-12 and 8-7.
 
Men's basketball fans are encouraged to arrive to the Pavilion early on Saturday to honor the Aggies' five-member senior class, a group of student-athletes the program will recognize in a pregame ceremony approximately 15 minutes before tipoff. Since UC Davis women's basketball is also competing in its final regular season game on Hamilton Court this weekend, one ticket is valid for both home events.
 
In the first half of their game against the Rainbow Warriors, the Aggies' defense shined, and held the Rainbow Warriors to 25 points; no visiting player entered the locker room with more than five points to his credit. UC Davis forced eight turnovers, which led to 12 points on the opposite end of the court, held UH to 36 percent shooting and a 27 percent clip from three.
 
Of the Aggies' 14 field goals recorded in the first half, assists were earned on 10 of their shots.
 
After halftime, the 'Bows caught fire and erased a 16-point Aggie advantage — one they built on a 16-2 run midway through the first half and another 6-0 outburst before halftime — with a 16-2 run of their own to take the lead.
 
By scoring another eight straight, UH led by seven with just under seven minutes remaining until the Aggies' defense set the stage for their late-game comeback.
 
Following a pair of free throws from Shorts II, he was fouled on the ensuing possession after an Aggie rebound jump-started a fast-break opportunity. Another pair of free throws from the reigning Big West Player of the Year pulled his team within a one-possession margin; another free throw from Mooney trimmed Hawai'i's lead to two.
 
A jumper from Brock Stepteau doubled his team's advantage, until Mooney responded with that spinning layup moments later to bring the Aggies back within two.
 
Stepteau led four double-digit Rainbow Warrior scorers with 17 points, followed by Eddie Stansberry (12 points), Drew Buggs (11) and Leland Green (10).  
 
 
 
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.