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Game 18

UC Davis Aggies (6-11, 0-1 BWC)
at
Long Beach State Beach (6-12, 1-1 BWC)

Thursday, Jan. 16 - 7 p.m.
Walter Pyramid (4,000) - Long Beach, Calif.

Tickets
Gameday Central

Watch on ESPN3 - Trent Rush (PBP), Richie Schueler (Analyst), Courtney Sweet (Sideline)
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK - Scott Marsh (PBP)
Audio
Live Stats
In-Game Twitter Updates
 
Game Notes: UC Davis  |  Long Beach State  |  Big West

DAVIS, Calif. —  Off last Saturday as the league's designated bye team, UC Davis will return to Big West play on Thursday when it visits the Walter Pyramid to face the Long Beach State Beach. Yes, you read that correctly: Long Beach State officially changed the nickname for all sports other than baseball to Beach with the NCAA.

Starting with Thursday's 7 p.m. matchup in Long Beach, ESPN 3 will broadcast both UC Davis basketball games scheduled this week. On the call courtside for the network in Long Beach are Trent Rush (PBP), Richie Schueler (Analyst) and Courtney Sweet (Sideline).

On the call for Sports 1140 KHTK and its internet audio broadcast, available on TuneIn Radio by searching the phrase Sports 1140 KHTK, is Scott Marsh. Live stats and in-game Twitter updates are also available; links for each medium are available at UC Davis Men's Basketball Gameday Central.

Long Beach State will host the Aggies in its Big West home opener after splitting last week's road games at CSUN and UC Santa Barbara. After falling to the Matadors, 95-77, the Beach bounced back by defeating the Gauchos, 55-52.

Even though Long Beach leads the overall series, 22-8, the Aggies have fared well in recent years by winning four of the last five head-to-head games. Of UC Davis' eight wins versus Long Beach, six took place since the 2015 season.

If recent results offer any indication of Thursday's matchup, expect a hard-fought contest that will need extra time to determine a winner. Prior to last year's series, which ended with each team protecting its home court in regulation, three of four games were decided in overtime — or double OT, as was the case when the Aggies visited the Walter Pyramid in 2018, and exited with a 105-104 buzzer-beating win.

If this is a close game heading into the homestretch, UC Davis holds a strong advantage over Long Beach State with its success at the free throw line this season. Compared to the Beach's .681 clip at the stripe, the seventh-highest out of the Big West's nine teams, the Aggies lead the conference, and rank No. 17 in the NCAA, with their .773 percentage.

Series Record: UC Davis trails 22-8
Last Long Beach State Win: 1/12/19 — A, 82-77
Last UC Davis Win: 2/16/19 — H, 77-73
Series Streak: UC Davis +1


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.