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DAVIS, Calif. — Back-to-back three pointers from Elijah Pepper and Stefan Gonzalez, scored within 35 seconds, pulled UC Davis within eight in Thursday's Big West Conference game at the Pavilion, but UC Irvine hit eight of its last 10 shots from the floor to defeat the Aggies, 80-65.
 
UC Davis will return to Bob Hamilton Court for Saturday's 5 p.m. game vs. Cal Poly at 8-14 overall and 2-4 against league teams. UC Irvine will continue its weekend at 13-9 and 5-1.
 
Pepper and Gonzalez were two of four Aggies who scored double figures against the Anteaters by finishing with a team-high 18 and 12, respectively. Damion Squire and Ezra Manjon each added 10 points. In addition to shooting 7 of 11 overall and 3 of 4 from three, Pepper led all Aggies with five rebounds.
 
That 6-0 scoring outburst, which took place with 8:49 remaining in the game, was the second run of the half that pulled the Aggies within striking distance of the Anteaters. That first scoring run started with Rogers Printup's baseline jumper at the buzzer, right before halftime and continued once play resumed after the break with the Aggies scoring eight of the first 10 points in the second half.
 
Following a steal from Damion Squire on UCI's inaugural possession of the second half, Joe Mooney hit a jumper, followed by a pair of threes from Squire and Pepper on UC Davis' next two possessions. By scoring 12 of the game's 14 points, the Aggies pulled within 10 and forced the Anteaters to call timeout two minutes into the half. 
 
Eyassu Worku led all UC Irvine players with 19 points, Collin Welp led all Anteaters with a game-high 10 boards.
 
Thursday night's contest is the first of two, in as many weeks, between these teams. After Saturday's home game against the Mustangs, which will take place on the program's Alumni Day, UC Davis will visit the Bren Events Center next Thursday before continuing next week's road trip at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 8.
 
This weekend's home game versus Cal Poly is the first of three home basketball doubleheaders scheduled throughout the month of February; tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. or 35 minutes after the preceding UC Davis-UC Santa Barbara game.

 
 
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.