Score: UC Davis 96, Menlo 69
Location: Davis, Calif. (University Credit Union Center)
Records: UC Davis 1-0 (0-0), Menlo 2-1 (0-0)
THE SHORT STORY: UC Davis opened its 2025-26 campaign in dominant fashion, rolling past Menlo 96-69 on Monday night at the University Credit Union Center. The Aggies controlled the tempo from start to finish, forcing 24 turnovers and turning them into 25 points while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 48 percent from beyond the arc in a complete team effort that saw four Aggies reach double figures.
COURT SIDE
- Nils Cooper led UC Davis with a career-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, adding three steals and six rebounds
- Isaiah Chappell, a fellow Crossroads alum and former high school teammate of Cooper, buried four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points to spark the Aggies' second-half surge
- Connor Sevilla added 14 points and four 3-pointers, while Carl Daughtery Jr. was actively defensively with six steals to go along with three assists and three rebounds
- The Aggies forced 24 Menlo turnovers, converting those into 25 points on the other end
- UC Davis dominated the offensive glass with 17 boards, producing 21 second-chance points
- Marcus Wilson contributed nine points, six rebounds and four assists in his UC Davis debut
- The Aggie bench poured in 39 points, helping UC Davis outscore Menlo 54-35 in the second half
- UC Davis shot 60 percent from 3-point range after halftime and 48.1 percent overall in the win
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UC Davis set the tone early, jumping out to a 6-0 lead behind buckets from Omer Suljanovic and Niko Rocak
- Menlo briefly closed the gap, but the Aggies' defensive pressure created 15 first-half turnovers to keep control of the game
- Sevilla's deep 3-pointer in the final minute of the half sent UC Davis into the locker room ahead 42-34
- The Aggies carried that momentum into the second half, opening the half with another three-pointer from Sevilla
- Cooper's fast-break dunk and Chappell's third triple of the night pushed the margin past 20 midway through the half as UC Davis' offense found its rhythm late
- UC Davis outscored Menlo 54-35 after the break, shooting 60 percent from long range in the period
- The Aggies' energy and depth shined, closing out the night with a 27-point win to start the season 1-0
UP NEXT
The Aggies continue their homestand Wednesday, Nov. 5, against North Dakota State at 6 p.m. The Bison are coming off a narrow 67-65 loss at Oregon State.
