Davis, Calif. — Entering the night as the the leading scorer in the Big West, Elijah Pepper paced the UC Davis Men's Basketball Team (13-8, 6-3) with a game-high 28 points in a 79-58 win over CSU Bakersfield. Accomplishing the season sweep over the Roadrunners, and a second straight win, UC Davis now looks ahead to a visit in hostile, Walter Pyramid for their first game of the season against Long Beach State.
Finding his groove from behind the arc, Pepper got in touch with his smooth shooting stroke to connect on a season-high six three pointers, breaking his earlier season-high mark of four three pointers against UC Irvine. Shooting just 28.3% from three point land prior to tonight, it will be a scary sight for Big West opponents if this is a sign of things to come from the top bucket getter in the conference. Pepper also finished the night with three assists, five rebounds, and just one turnover. Maybe his most efficient night of the year from a numbers standpoint, Pepper was a key component in the Aggies shooting a blistering 63.4% from the field.
Another Aggies shining tonight for Jim Les' and company was Ade Adebayo who recorded a career-high 14 points on 7-8 shooting from the field. Moving to 6-0 in Big West games that Ade scores a point this season, he breaks his past career-high of 13 points he set earlier in the season against SEMO. He was one rebound shy of a double-double as he finished the night with nine boards, and added one steal. A second straight game with double digit points, Adebayo has started to find his way around the basket of recent and is proving that he is not just a defensive specialist.
With three Aggies recording double figures tonight, it was an efficient shooting night that carried UC Davis to their second straight victory. Shooting above 60% from the field for the first time this season, and just the fifth time being above 50%, UC Davis showed off their dynamic offense and ability to share the rock. Albeit CSU Bakersfield is a team that is plagued with injuries and not known for their offense, UC Davis has shown that when they are able to limit their opponents from behind the arc, it usually is a good result. Allowing just three makes from three point land, UC Davis relied on strong rotations, and their ability to control the glass dictate the pace of play and force CSU Bakersfield into some uncomfortable possessions.
GAME NOTES
- UC Davis shot 26-41 from the field (63.4%).
- Aggies won the rebounding battle 25-17.
- Three Aggies reached double figures : Pepper (28), Adebayo (14) and Ty Johnson (13).
- UC Davis finished 9-19 on 3FG (47.4%).
- Getting to the line at an elite rate, UC Davis attempted 28 free throws to CSU Bakersfield's 16.
- UC Davis had 13 assists on the night with Leo DeBruhl and Eli Pepper both recording a team-high three.
UP NEXT
UC Davis will have another road test as they take on Long Beach State Saturday afternoon for a 1 P.M. PT tip-off. Winning tonight against Cal Poly 70-52, The Beach possess the highest scoring offense in the Big West. The contest can be streamed on ESPN+ as UC Davis aims to make it a third straight victory.
