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DAVIS, Calif. – Down by three with five seconds remaining in Friday's Big West Conference game at the Pavilion, UC Davis created an opportunity to send this game into overtime with a straightaway three, but that attempt bounced off the rim and was collected by Hawai'i as the visiting Rainbow Warriors ended the Aggies' five-game win streak with a 73-68 result.
 
The Ags will return to Bob Hamilton Court for Saturday's 4 p.m. regular season finale with an 8-7 overall and 5-4 Big West record, UH is now 11-8 and 9-8.
 
"When I spoke to the guys in the locker room afterwards, I challenged them because the beauty of this format is that there is not much time to pout or feel sorry for ourselves since we will face them again tomorrow," said UC Davis head coach Jim Les.
 
"What I am looking for is a response with the way we played tonight. In the past they responded each time we challenged them, and I expect nothing different tomorrow."
 
Elijah Pepper led a group of double-digit Aggie scorers with 19 points by recording three of his seven baskets from three. Ezra Manjon earned 13 of his 17 points after halftime, Damion Squire finished with 13 points and Caleb Fuller added another 12.
 
For the second time in the last three games, UC Davis forced its opponent to commit 20 or more turnovers; Hawai'i's 21 led to 22 points for the Aggies.
 
Even though UC Davis shot 47 percent overall, compared to the Rainbow Warriors who shot 44 percent from the floor, it was UH's three-point shooting that ultimately became the difference in the game since the visitors doubled the Aggies' total by canning 12 shots from distance.
 
UC Davis, the league's top free throw shooting team, scored eight points out of its season-low nine attempts. Hawai'i scored on all nine of its attempts, which was one free throw shy of matching a season low of its own.   
 
Aggie basketball fans can watch the final game of regular season through a video stream provided by BigWest.TV, which will feature play-by-play commentary from Greg Wong, or by listening to Scott Marsh's call on Sports 1140 KHTK.
 

 
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Over 700 student-athletes across 25 intercollegiate athletics teams, following the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, are enrolled in 71 of more than 100 academic programs at the fifth-ranked public school in the nation.
 
Centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley, UC Davis is known nationwide as a leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, ranks annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
 
UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.