Score: UC Davis 71, UC Santa Barbara 60
Location: Davis, Calif. (University Credit Union Center)
Records: UC Davis 5-4 (2-0), UC Santa Barbara 6-3 (0-2)
The short story: Another 20+ point performance from senior
TY Johnson pushed the UC Davis basketball team past the Santa Barbara Gauchos 71-60 on Saturday, Dec. 7. The win also propelled the Aggies to their second straight 2-0 start in Big West conference play.
OPENING TIP
- Johnson led all scorers with 23 points in the contest, also playing all 40 minutes of competition.
- Niko Rocak posted a double-double, putting up 11 points and 10 rebounds.
- Connor Sevilla and Leo DeBruhl rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Aggies, each scoring 11 points.
- The Aggies went to the line often, putting up 23 free throws and knocking down 18.
- Davis stayed productive on the defensive end, forcing eight steals from the Gauchos and blocking four shots.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Davis began the game hot, knocking down the first eight points of the contest.
- After the quick start, the Aggies began to cool off, scoring only five more points in the first 10 minutes of the game.
- Despite the slow start, Davis led Santa Barbara 13-8 with 9:46 remaining in the first half.
- Going into the latter part of the half, the Gauchos began to get going, stringing together an 8-0 run that saw the score tied at 18 apiece.
- Despite momentum going the way of their opponent, the Aggies stayed resilient, using three-pointers from Sevilla and Sione Lose to stay in front.
- In the final minute of the half, Santa Barbara would attack the basket to tie the game at 28 going into the locker room.
- Coming into the second half, the Aggies knocked down two straight triples to retake the lead.
- Through the first 10 minutes of the half, both teams went back and forth, with Davis holding a slim 52-50 lead with 10:42 remaining.
- After two straight layups from Pablo Tamba and Johnson, both teams went on the defensive, with only one point being scored over the next three minutes.
- With only two minutes left, the Aggies went to the line, cashing in their final nine points of the contest from the strike, which proved to be the difference as they would secure the win.
UP NEXT: The Aggies will continue the non-conference season as they head across I-80 to participate in the annual Causeway Cup against Sacramento State. The matchup against the Hornets will be on Saturday, Dec. 14, and will tip off at 7:00 p.m. PT.
