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DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis set a new program record by scoring 110 points against CSUN in Saturday's Big West Conference game at the Pavilion, the most in the program's D-I era, thanks to its red-hot shooting from three, and at the free throw line, to sweep this season's series against CSUN with its 110-98 victory.
 
In addition to breaking the 100-point threshold for the third time this year — the Aggies scored triple digits twice in the 12 previous Div. I seasons combined entering the 2019-20 campaign — they hit 15 of 25 attempts from three and nearly matched an all-time program record for the most three-point field goals in a single game (16).
 
By winning its third straight game, and fourth in the last five, UC Davis will enter next week's Central Coast road trip at 12-15 overall and 6-5 in league play. CSUN will return home with records of 11-16 and 6-5. Even though the Aggies and Matadors sport the same Big West record, UC Davis holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, should that play a factor regarding seeding at next month's Big West Tournament.
 
Saturday's result continues UC Davis' dominance against CSUN in recent seasons since it now won 17 of the last 20 overall — a block of results that started in 2011 — and every head-to-head home game since 2010.
 
"The Matadors go on the road and shoot 59 percent overall, 53 from three and 73 at the line and lose," said head coach Jim Les, "and then you look at our numbers. We almost shoot 60 percent from the field, 60 from three and 96 from the line. This definitely was a shootout, and I think I was the only one in the building who did not enjoy the game.
 
"It was entertaining from a fan's standpoint, that is for sure."
 
Joe Mooney led a contingent of Aggie double-digit scorers with 29, a total that includes a career-high seven threes and eight points earned at the line (in as many attempts) — another new career mark.
 
"He hears from the coaching staff all the time, 'Joe, shoot it! Be locked and loaded every time.' When he does get it going, he is a difference maker. He and Stefan (Gonzalez) can stretch the floor quickly when they are making their shots, which allows Ezra and Caleb room to get it to the basket because opponents are worried about those shooters," Les added.
 
Stefan Gonzalez posted his second 20-point total in the last six games by finishing with that total; the nation's No. 2 three-point shooter hit five of his seven baskets from distance to protect his place as one of the nation's top shooters. Ezra Manjon also set a new career high by hitting all eight attempts at the line; he and Caleb Fuller both finished with 16 points apiece.
 
UC Davis entered Saturday's game as the league's No. 1 free throw shooting team, and left no doubt as to why when it faced the Matadors since it made all but one of its 26 free throw attempts and shot 90 percent or higher for the third time this year. The Aggies' .962 percentage is the second-highest figure since joining the Big West Conference in 2007, trailing only three games when they recorded a perfect 1.000.
 
Five lead changes and three tied scores took place throughout the first half until a jumper from Manjon gave UC Davis the lead for good at the 9:18 mark of the first half, which turned a 15-14 deficit into a 16-15 lead.
 
CSUN whittled its six-point halftime deficit to three early in the second half, but the Aggies responded with an 8-2 mini run, over 1:11 of game time, and never looked back.
 
With three of its four double-digit scorers coming off the bench, UC Davis' reserves out-scored their counterparts by a 65-18 margin. That total helped the Aggies negate offense generated by the Matadors' Lamine Diane and Terrell Gomez — the league's top scorers — and win Saturday's shootout.
 
"I do not know if this is a recipe we want every night, but it is nice to know we have this in our repertoire," said Les.

CSUN entered the Pavilion as the league's No. 1 offense, thanks to its 74.7 points per game average, led by the Diane and Gomez, who finished with 30 and 26 points apiece. 
 
Up next for men's basketball is a pair of games on the Central Coast, starting with Thursday's matchup at Cal Poly. Two days later, the Aggies will head to UC Santa Barbara before returning home for its next game, slated for Feb. 29.
 
 
 
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. 
 
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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.