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NORTHRIDGE, Calif. —  CSUN entered Saturday's ESPN3 broadcast from The Matadome averaging 75 points per game, but UC Davis' defense held that explosive offense far below its average by allowing only 62 points in their first meeting of the season.
 
On the other end of the court, a 6-0 individual run from Ezra Manjon, on a three-point play and a straightway three on consecutive UC Davis possessions, stretched a three-point lead to nine with 3:09 remaining, and Damion Squire's free throw with 1.7 left on the clock sealed a 66-62 victory for the Aggies.

"That was a huge win. We didn't play our best, but we found a way and dug in," said head coach Jim Les.

"This group is maturing; they are starting to focus on the defensive end, make the hustle plays, win the 50/50 plays, take a charge and help us win without possessing the ball. This is a heck of a road trip for this young group."

Saturday's victory is the Aggies' 12th in the last 13 head-to-head games.

By sweeping its Southern California games at Long Beach State on Thursday, and at CSUN, in games broadcasted nationwide on ESPN3, UC Davis will return home for Wednesday's 7 p.m. home game vs. Cal State Fullerton at 8-11 overall and 2-1 in Big West games.
 
CSUN, a team that entered Saturday's game with four wins in its last five played, will continue its season at 7-13 and 2-2.
 
Not only did the Aggies frustrate CSUN the entire afternoon with the way its defense performed from the opening tip to the final buzzer, that unit held Lamine Diane, the Matadors' top scorer, to 19 points — nine fewer than his season average thanks to the combined defensive efforts of Pepper, Squire, Kennedy Koehler and Ade Adebayo.
 
For the second game in a row, UC Davis' freshman duo of Pepper and Manjon fueled the Aggies' offense by finishing with 16 and 15 points apiece.

Regarding Pepper and Manjon, Les said, "They have talent and are fearless, those are great qualities. They are just getting better and better, it is fun to watch that progression."

Joe Mooney also scored in double figures by ending with 13. Led by Matt Neufeld's team-high eight, six Aggies finished with five or more rebounds.

UC Davis will return to Hamilton Court for Wednesday's 7 p.m. home game, the only one within a four-game block of action. Following that matchup against the Titans, men's basketball will head to Hawai'i next Saturday before playing back-to-back Big West games inside The Pavilion, for the first time during league play, the following week.
  
 
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.