DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis returns home to host Louisiana on Monday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. inside the University Credit Union Center. It will mark the first ever meeting between the programs.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN/FOLLOW
Nov. 24 – vs. Louisiana | ESPN+ | Live Stats | Radio: Varsity Network | @ucdavismbb (X/Instagram)

GAME NOTES

• Opening Tip: UC Davis enters the week at 4-2 after a competitive road effort at Colorado on Friday night. The Aggies trailed just 43-39 at halftime and got career performances from Marcus Wilson and Niko Rocak before Colorado pulled away late for a 95-79 final. Wilson finished with a career-best 21 points, while Rocak added a career-high 19 on 6-for-7 shooting. UC Davis continues to average 78.3 points per game and leads the Big West in turnovers forced at 15.67 per contest. The Aggies also rank top three in the conference in field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage, assists, and free throw percentage. UC Davis has opened the season with wins over Menlo, North Dakota State, Sacramento State, and Nevada while showing one of the league's most active defensive profiles. Through six games, the Aggies are producing 8.5 steals per game, 8.8 made threes per game, and a 55.2 effective field goal percentage.
• Early Returns: UC Davis sits at 4-2 with four wins coming against Menlo, North Dakota State, Sacramento State, and Nevada. The Aggies continue to show strong efficiency on both ends. UC Davis ranks second in the conference in effective field goal percentage at 55.2 percent and third in field goal percentage at 47.5 percent. The Aggies are also top four in assists per game and blocks per game. Defensively, UC Davis continues to generate pressure at a high rate. The Aggies lead the Big West in turnovers forced and rank second in steals per game. UC Davis is also top five in scoring defense, scoring margin, turnover margin, and three point defense.
  • Team Impact:
    • Turnovers Forced Per Game: 15.67 • 1st Big West • 65th nationally
    • Steals Per Game: 8.5 • 2nd Big West • 89th nationally
    • Effective Field Goal Percentage: 55.2 percent • 2nd Big West • 97th nationally
    • Field Goal Percentage: 47.5 percent • 3rd Big West
    • Three Pointers Per Game: 8.8 • 4th Big West
    • Blocks Per Game: 3.5 • 4th Big West
    • Free Throw Percentage: 74.0 percent • 2nd Big West
• Cooking With Connor: Connor Sevilla ranks among the Big West's most efficient perimeter scorers at 14.5 points per game while shooting 48.6 percent from three and 88.9 percent at the line. He sits third in the Big West in three point percentage and fourth in threes per game at 2.83. Sevilla has scored in double figures in all but one game and plays 29.2 minutes per outing.
• Cooper's Leap: Nils Cooper remains one of the most efficient players in the country, ranking 15th nationally and first in the Big West in field goal percentage at 69.6 percent. He is averaging 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.2 steals. Cooper added 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting with a team-high nine rebounds at Colorado. He ranks second in the conference in steals per game and continues to drive the two way identity of the roster. UC Davis is 4-1 in games he has appeared in.
• All Around Isaiah: Isaiah Chappell continues to provide steady scoring at 10.2 points per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three. He adds 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists while ranking eighth in the Big West with 2.00 made threes per game.
• Steady Suljanovic: Omer Suljanovic is averaging 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 22.8 minutes. He adds physicality inside and contributes 1.3 offensive boards per game. Suljanovic remains one of UC Davis' most reliable rotation pieces.
• Niko The Anchor: Niko Rocak ranks second in the Big West and 18th nationally with 2.67 blocks per game and holds 16 total blocks, good for 9th in the country. He is averaging 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 61.3 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three. Rocak posted a career-high 19 points at Colorado on 6-for-7 shooting and added two blocks and six rebounds. He ranks 11th in the Big West in total rebounds.
• Marcus Making His Mark: Marcus Wilson is averaging 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 45.3 percent. He delivered a career-high 21 points at Colorado while going 3-for-5 from three. Wilson ranks 10th in the Big West in total assists and continues to serve as UC Davis' primary creator in 28.0 minutes per game.
• Brayden Dropping Dimes: Brayden Fagbemi is averaging 4.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and a team-high 5.5 assists per game across four appearances. He added seven points and six assists at Colorado and ranks seventh in the Big West in total assists despite playing fewer games than most league leaders.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

• Louisiana enters at 1-5 on the season.
• Coming off an 80-43 loss at Santa Clara.
• Jaxon Olvera (13.2) and Dorian Finister (12.5) lead their scoring.
• This is the first ever meeting between the programs.

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.