Davis, Calif. - For the first time in 2022, UC Davis will get to stay in the friendly confines of University Credit Union Center for multiple games as the Aggies host Cal State Fullerton on Thursday and Long Beach State on Saturday. 

Both games will see the return of fans to men's basketball games for the first time since Dec. 22 as well as opportunities for the UC Davis coaching staff to raise awareness for cancer research by participating in Suits and Sneakers Week in alliance with Coaches Versus Cancer. 

GAME 14
WHAT: UC Davis (8-4, 1-1) vs. Cal State Fullerton (11-5, 4-0)
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022
TIME: 6 p.m. PT
WHERE: Davis, Calif.
ARENA: University Credit Union Center (6,003)
WATCH: ESPN+ 
LISTEN: Sports 1140 KHTK or on The Varsity App
STATS
GAME NOTES

GAME 15
WHAT: UC Davis (8-5, 1-1) vs Long Beach State (8-9, 3-1)
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022
TIME: 1 p.m. PT
WHERE: Davis, Calif.
ARENA: University Credit Union Center (6,003)
WATCH: ESPN+
LISTEN: KSAC 105.5 FM or on the Varsity App
STATS

UC DAVIS INDOOR SPORT SAFETY GUIDELINES 
Fans will be allowed back inside University Credit Union Center for men's basketball for the first time since the men played Portland on Dec. 22. 

All fans ages three and over who wish to attend events MUST provide either:

• Proof of full vaccination (two weeks post vaccination) OR

• A negative PCR (within 48 hours of the event) or antigen (within 24 hours of the event) test

 Acceptable proof of vaccination or test results for entry into the venue include:

1. CDC vaccination card

2. State of California digital COVID-19 record using the My Vannine Record Website or App

3. Documentation of a negative test aht shots your full name, the date the test was administered, and the word "negative" or "not detected.

There will be no concessions at the UCUC through at least Feb. 13 per university policy and court side seating has been relocated to limit opportunities for exposures between the teams and fans. 

OPENING TIP
The Aggies bounced back in a big way on Jan. 20, picking up a 64-47 conference win over CSUN and giving UC Davis a batting average in the Big West standings. 

Due to COVID-19 cancelations throughout the conference, the conference standings will be determined via win percentage. That puts the Aggies squarely in the regular season title hunt at .500 with a chance to build momentum after one of their most lopsided wins of the seasons. 

After entering the half tied at 29, UC Davis outscored CSUN 17-3 over the final 7:28 of game time in Northridge. 

Christian Anigwe continued to be a force on the offensive glass with six of his eight coming on that end. Anigwe has 15 offensive rebounds over his last two games. He also led the Aggies with 16 points and scored in double-figures for the second straight game. 

Ezra Manjon had 13 points, Elijah Pepper had 14 and Caleb Fuller 13 to give the Aggies that all important magic number of four in double figures.  The Aggies are 5-1 when four players score in double figures. 

It was the first time the Aggies have been able to play two games in a row since Dec. 19 and 22. It also marked the third straight game, and sixth in its last eight, that UC Davis has out-rebounded an opponent. 

UC Davis has also turned the ball over 10 times or less in four straight games, putting them at second in the conference in at just 12.5 per game on the season and a 1.85 margin. 

This will be the first meeting between the Aggies and Cal State Fullerton in nearly two years as both matchups in 2021 were canceled due to the pandemic. 


Series Record vs. Cal State Fullerton

• UC Davis trails 18-23
• Last CSUF win: 1/22/20, H - W, 78-74
• Last UC Davis win: 2/8/20, A - W, 87-81
• Series Streak: UC Davis +1

COACHES VERSUS CANCER
UC Davis' coaching staff will be wearing custom suits and sneakers on the sideline for this week's games against Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State. 

Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week is a nationwide event that unites basketball coaches across the country for a common cause – saving lives from cancer.

Coaches and their staff across the nation wear sneakers with their suits during games to raise awareness, helping to save lives by raising funds and encouraging people to educate themselves about cancer prevention, screening, and early detection.

Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers games will support childhood cancer research, services, and awareness, as well as promote cancer prevention efforts targeting children.

For over 25 years, the Coaches vs. Cancer program, in collaboration with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, has united coaches and fans nationwide to help the American Cancer Society defeat a common enemy – cancer. With your passion and dedicated support, the impact has been felt in communities nationwide.

Through fundraising and education initiatives, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has supported the American Cancer Society in our efforts to save lives from cancer in the US and worldwide. The battle isn't over, and we need you on our team. Whether you're a coach, player, or fan –you can join us in our fight against cancer.

GAME CANCELATIONS
UC Davis played its first set of consecutive games since Dec. 19 and 22 on Jan due to COVID-19 game cancelations. 

They had been able to play just two games since Dec. 22  due to opponent cancelations and were the only team in the Big West to have played just one conference game thus far. 

Through Jan. 26, they have still played the fewest conference games in the league. 

KEYS TO SUCCESS
• UC Davis is in the midst of a remarkable stretch in which they've turned the ball over 10 times or less in four straight games. They've committed the second-fewest turnovers in the conference thus far this season have the second-best turnover margin at 1.85.
In fact, UC Davis is ranked 9th in Division 1 for fewest turnovers with 163. 

• After struggling to eke out positive margins on the boards early in the season, the Aggies have tied or outrebounded their opponents in four of their last five games and six of their last eight. UC Davis is 6-1 when tying or outrebounding its opponent. 

• Against CSUN on Jan. 20, four Aggies scored in double figures and history points to that being a winning omen for UC Davis. The Aggies are 5-1 when four players hit double-figures. 

• Though 1-1 in their last two, UC Davis has outrebounded on the offensive glass 31-12, leading to a 29-17 UC Davis advantage in second chance points over that span. 

ANIGWE'S BIG NIGHT
Christian Anigwe had career highs in points and rebounds against Cal Poly but it was his effort on the boards that set him apart. 

Single-game offensive rebounds aren't a historically tracked stat, but since they began to be statted in the Division 1 era beginning in 2007, none had more than Anigwe's nine offensive rebounds at Cal Poly. 

One possible candidate that could have surpassed nine offensive rebounds would be Dominic Callori's school record 24 rebounds at Sonoma State on Feb. 16, 2001. 

At his current pace, Anigwe could end up with one of the highest offensive rebounding totals in recent program history. 

With six offensive boards against CSUN on Jan. 20, Anigwe has 15 over his last two games and 34 on the season. 

AWARDS SEASON
Manjon had himself a week to remember against Oregon State and Pacific. 

The electric sophomore led UC Davis to wins over both with a career-high 27 against Oregon State and put in 20 against Pacific. 

That netted him the Lou Henson National Player of the Week award from College Insider on Monday and Big West Player of the Week honors later in the day. 

Manjon and Elijah Pepper are the only teammates to win Big West Player of the Week this season. 

TEAM EFFORT 
UC Davis is knocking on the door of replicating a rare feat they accomplished last season. 

The 2020-21 season marked the first time since 2008-09 that the Aggies had four players average double figures scoring. The 2021-22 Aggies currently have four themselves between Elijah Pepper (15.1), Ezra Manjon (14.2), Christian Anigwe (11.9) and Caleb Fuller (11.5). 

The 2008-09 Aggies were led by Vince Oliver, the brother of current Director of Basketball Operations Ryan Oliver, with 15.6 points per game. 

CAREER WATCH LISTS
Manjon is also within striking distance of a career milestone in his third NCAA season. 

At 853 points, Manjon needs 147 more to reach 1,000 career points. Manjon's career-high point total for a single season came in 2019-20 when he scored 388 points behind Aggie great Joe Mooney's 419. 

Pepper is the next closest Aggie at 738 career points. His career-high of 278 also came in 2019-20, though Pepper is already over halfway to that total this season.

23 Aggies have reached the 1,000 point milestone with the last being Siler Scheider scoring 1,440 from 2015-19. Should Manjon reach that mark this season, he would be one of just five Aggies to score 1,000 points or more in their first three seasons. 

DYNAMIC DUO
Pepper and Manjon are the two highest ranking teammates on the Big West scoring list with Pepper coming in at 7th with 15.1 points per game and Manjon 8th at 14.2.

No other team in the Big West Conference has two players higher than both in the top 11 in scoring. 

They're also one of just two pairs of teammates in the Big West with three or more 20-point games.