DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis men's basketball returns to the University Credit Union Center on Friday, hosting Sacramento State at 6 p.m. PT in the 123rd edition of the Causeway Classic. Both teams enter the matchup with 2-1 records. 

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN/FOLLOW
Nov. 14 – vs. Sacramento State | ESPN+ | Live Stats | Radio: 96.1 FM, HD3 | Parking Info | @ucdavismbb (X/Instagram)

GAME NOTES

• Opening Tip: UC Davis comes back home after a 67-63 road loss at Portland on Sunday. The Aggies are 2-0 at the University Credit Union Center this season with double-figure wins over Menlo and North Dakota State. Sacramento State arrives following a 92-87 loss to UC Santa Barbara and will be playing its first road game of the year after opening with three straight home games to begin the season.
• Early Returns: UC Davis opened the season with home wins over Menlo and North Dakota State before falling in a close road matchup at Portland. Through three games, the Aggies have shown a defensive edge, leading the Big West in turnovers forced and holding opponents to 25.0 percent from three. UC Davis also has four players averaging double figures and is shooting 36.8 percent from deep.
  • Team Impact:
    • Turnovers forced: 17.67 per game – 1st in Big West, 52nd nationally
    • Steals: 9.3 per game – 2nd in Big West
    • Opponent 3-point defense: 25.0% – 1st in Big West, 55th nationally
    • Field-goal percentage defense: 39.7% – 3rd in Big West
    • Blocks: 4.0 per game – 3rd in Big West
    • Effective FG%: 54.4% – 5th in Big West
    • 3-point percentage: 36.8% – 4th in Big West
    • Scoring offense: 79.7 ppg – 5th in Big West
  • Individual Leaders:
    • Connor Sevilla: 17.7 ppg • 58.6% FG • 61.1% 3FG (3rd Big West) • 3.67 3PM/G (3rd BW)
    • Nils Cooper: 17.0 ppg • 70.0% FG • 5.0 rpg • 2.5 spg (Missed Portland game)
    • Isaiah Chappell: 13.7 ppg • 53.6% FG • 3.7 rpg • 2.0 apg
    • Omer Suljanovic: 10.0 ppg • 5.3 rpg • 2.33 offensive rebounds
    • Niko Rocak: 10 total blocks (1st BW, 9th nationally) • 3.33 bpg (1st BW) • 8.7 ppg
    • Marcus Wilson: 3.7 apg • 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio
• Cooking With Connor: Connor Sevilla has opened the season as UC Davis' most efficient scorer, averaging 17.7 points on 58.6 percent shooting and 61.1 percent from three across three games. He posted a career-high 26 points against North Dakota State on 8-for-10 shooting and has reached double figures in every game so far while leading the Aggies in minutes played.
• Cooper's Leap: Despite missing UC Davis' last game against Portland, Nils Cooper was super effective in his first two outings, averaging 17.0 points on 70.0 percent shooting to go with 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals. He scored a career-high 18 points in the opener against Menlo and followed with 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting against North Dakota State.
• All Around Isaiah: Isaiah Chappell is averaging 13.7 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 53.6 percent from the field. He opened the season with 16 points against Menlo and led UC Davis with 14 points and seven rebounds at Portland, adding three made threes against the Pilots.
• Steady Suljanovic: Omer Suljanovic is off to a steady start in his Aggie career, averaging 10.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures in two of three contests. He added eight points and five rebounds against North Dakota State and followed with 12 points and six boards at Portland.
• Niko The Anchor: Niko Rocak has anchored the interior defensively, leading the Big West with 10 blocks through three games. His 3.33 blocks per game rank 15th nationally. Rocak tied his own program record with six blocks in the win over North Dakota State and is averaging 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.
• Marcus Setting The Tone: Marcus Wilson is averaging 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-leading 3.7 assists per game with a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio. He notably posted six assists in UC Davis' win over North Dakota State.
• Aggie Debut For Fagbemi: Brayden Fagbemi made his season debut at Portland and delivered a game-high seven assists, to go along with six rebounds and two steals in 31 minutes. He gave the Aggies an immediate lift on both ends and should continue to be a constant contributor.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

• Sacramento State enters at 2-1 and is coming off a 92-87 home loss to UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday.
• The Hornets have four players averaging double figures, led by Mikey Williams, Prophet Johnson, and Jeremiah Cherry.
• Sacramento State is shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 46.8 percent from three through its first three games.
• The Hornets lead the Big Sky in blocks at 7.7 per game and average 18.7 assists, ranking among the conference leaders in ball movement.
• Friday marks Sacramento State's first road game of the season after opening with three straight at the new Hornet Pavilion.

SEASON NOTES

• Returning Ags: Niko Rocak enters his third season with UC Davis after anchoring the Aggie frontcourt with 6.8 rebounds per game and setting the program's single-season (58) and single-game (6) blocks records. His defensive presence and leadership will again serve as a stabilizing force in the paint. Connor Sevilla, now in his third year, started 24 games last season and averaged 8.9 points per game. He led UC Davis with 63 made threes and ranked among Big West leaders at the free-throw line, converting 91 percent of his attempts. His poise and perimeter shooting remain key offensive pieces. Carl Daughtery Jr. returns for his second season after playing all 32 games last year. The guard averaged 5.0 points and 1.8 rebounds while knocking down 26 threes. His scoring and defensive versatility give the Aggies additional lineup flexibility. Nils Cooper, son of Hall of Famer Michael Cooper, played 30 games last season and averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds. He posted a career-high 13 rebounds against Big West champion UC San Diego and should continue to be an active wing defender and rebounder while stepping into a larger role offensively this year. Isaiah Chappell, son of NCAA champion Mike Chappell, appeared in 21 games and connected on nine threes before an injury shortened his season. A New Zealand U18 national team member, he provides depth, shooting and athleticism to the Aggie frontcourt.
• New Faces: Brayden Fagbemi joins UC Davis after averaging 11.4 points, 4.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals as a sophomore at Central Arkansas, where he started 27 games and led the team in steals. The Illinois native began his career at Johns Hopkins, earning D3hoops.com Region V and Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year honors after posting 13.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Marcus Wilson, a three-star guard from Washington State, brings size and athleticism to the Aggie backcourt. He appeared in four games last season before injury and was previously ranked as the No. 1 recruit in New Mexico's 2024 class by PrepHoops. Cyril "CJ" Franklin Jr. transfers from the College of Southern Nevada, where he averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while earning ACCAC Freshman of the Year and all-conference honors. His all-around game provides scoring and playmaking versatility. Ylan Esso-Essis from France, comes from Modesto JC after averaging 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds while earning Big 8 Player of the Year and NABC All-America honors. Jonathan Noudjihidi joins from Coahoma CC after averaging 10.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He posted six double-doubles and ranked among conference leaders in shooting percentage at 57.8. Jalen Stokes, from Dougherty Valley High School, was a four-year starter and scored 1,607 career points. The Bay Area standout averaged 24 points and nine rebounds as a senior, earning NCS Player of the Year and All-State honors. Chase Rawlins, from local Folsom High School, was a three-time academic all-conference honoree who averaged 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists. He earned league co-MVP and section MVP honors while leading his team to a championship. Abdullah Amzil, from Finland's Drive Academy, was named the 2023–24 Finnish U19 Player of the Year after averaging 14.4 points and six rebounds. He boosted his scoring to 21 points per game in the playoffs and represents Finland internationally. Omer Suljanovic, from Austria's national team and UCC Assigeco Piacenza, led Italy's U19 league in scoring at 24.2 points per game. He made his senior national team debut for Austria at age 17 and brings a combination of size and perimeter skill to the Aggie frontcourt.
• Coaching Staff Continuity and Additions: UC Davis maintains one of the most stable staffs in Division I, with head coach Jim Les, associate head coach Kevin Nosek, and assistants Kyle Vogt and Jonathan Metzger-Jones working together since 2016-17. This group together represents the longest-tenured staff in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The staff expands this year with three additions: Fortune Solomon, Mike Kosich, and Reece Lakritz. Solomon joins as an assistant coach after serving with the Brooklyn Nets' G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, and brings more than a decade of experience across the NBA, G League, and international basketball. He also serves as an assistant with the South Sudan National Team, helping guide the program to its first Olympic berth. Kosich arrives as assistant coach and chief of staff following roles at San Diego State and South Alabama. His experience in roster construction, scouting, and day-to-day operations will play a major role as UC Davis transitions to the Mountain West. Lakritz, a UC Davis student and former team manager, becomes the program's video coordinator and assistant director of basketball operations. He has been part of the Aggie program since 2023.
• International Experience and Family Connections: UC Davis features one of the most globally connected and family-rooted rosters in Division I. Several Aggies bring international playing experience or heritage, while others continue family legacies that have shaped the program's identity both on and off the court. Graduate forward Niko Rocak represents Switzerland after competing for the nation's U20 team and earning his first senior national team cap earlier this summer. Rocak, fluent in multiple languages, is also one of the program's top academic performers, pursuing an MBA after earning his degree in chemistry. Freshman forward Omer Suljanovic, from Vienna, Austria, made his senior national team debut at just 17 years old, becoming one of the youngest players in the world to appear in a FIBA qualifying window. He is the son of longtime professional player and coach Ramiz Suljanovic, who spent more than a decade in European basketball. His brother, Imran, is also a freshman on the men's basketball team at St. John's. Freshman Abdullah Amzil, from Finland, earned Finnish U19 Player of the Year honors and has represented Finland at multiple youth levels. Basketball runs in his family as well. His brother Mustapha starred at Dayton and New Mexico before signing professionally in Europe, and his sister Latifa played collegiately at Detroit Mercy. Sophomore Isaiah Chappell competed for New Zealand's U18 National Team and follows the example of his father, Mike Chappell, who won an NCAA championship at Michigan State and played professionally in the Australian NBL. Junior Nils Cooper, a California native, represented the Swedish U18 National Team and is the son of Hall of Famer Michael Cooper, a five-time NBA champion and WNBA championship coach who most recently led the BIG3's Miami 305 to a league title. Sophomore Ylan Esso-Essis, from France, developed within the Metropolitans 92 program, one of Europe's premier basketball clubs. Jonathan Noudjihidi, born in N'Djamena, Chad, adds further international perspective to the Aggies' lineup and is one of several players who bring a truly global background to Davis. The 2025-26 Aggies reflect the growing international reach of college basketball, representing Switzerland, Austria, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, France, and Chad.
• Excellence in the Classroom – The UC Davis Standard: UC Davis men's basketball continues to set the academic standard within the Big West, maintaining a 98 percent graduation rate and a team GPA above 3.0. The Aggies also led all UC Davis men's programs in winter quarter GPA. Niko Rocak, Connor Sevilla, and Nils Cooper earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors last season, recognizing student-athletes who maintain a minimum 3.50 GPA and play in at least 90 percent of games. The 2025-26 roster features 14 student-athletes representing seven different majors. Among the highlights are Niko Rocak, who is part of the master's of management program, and Brayden Fagbemi, who is a human development major on a pre-med track. The blend of majors reflects UC Davis' academic diversity and its commitment to preparing student-athletes for long-term success beyond basketball.
• From Past to Present to Future: The 2025-26 season is the 19th for UC Davis as a member of the Big West Conference. UC Davis will join the Mountain West for the 2026-27 season. Previous conference affiliations include: Big West Conference (2007-present), Division I Independent (2004-2007), California Collegiate Athletic Association (1998-2004), Northern California Athletic Conference (1982-1998), Far West Conference (1925-1982).
• Program Legacy and Success: UC Davis men's basketball has built a lasting tradition of success across eras. The Aggies captured the 1998 NCAA Division II national championship, made 12 NCAA regional appearances, and have since risen to become a consistent Division I contender. UC Davis has won two Big West regular-season titles (2015, 2018), a Big West Tournament championship (2017), and earned NCAA Tournament (2017) and NIT appearances (2015, 2018). Over the past decade, the Aggies have posted winning records in seven of ten seasons, highlighted by multiple 20-win campaigns. The 2014-15 squad set the Division I program record with 25 victories, while the 2017 team delivered UC Davis' first Division I NCAA Tournament win by defeating NC Central in the First Four. Signature wins include Utah State, California, Oregon State, Washington State, and Grand Canyon — a 75-68 road victory that snapped the Lopes' 18-game home winning streak, one of the nation's longest at the time. Professional success stories include T.J. Shorts II (2023 EuroCup MVP, Greece), Chima Moneke (EuroCup MVP, former Sacramento King), Elijah Pepper (Perth Wildcats, NBL), Brynton Lemar (Europe), Ezra Manjon (Italy), and A.J. John (Japan, Belgium, Israel, and Mexico). Beyond the court, notable Aggie alumni include Corey Hawkins (assistant coach, Orlando Magic), Joe Harden (founder, Salty Goats Winery), Mark Payne (vice president, Morgan Stanley), Ryan Howley (vice president, Bessemer Trust), and entrepreneurs Ryan Sypkens and Justin Dueck. UC Davis basketball has proven itself as a program built to win, graduate, and prepare players for success in every stage of life.