DAVIS, Calif. — The Big West has selected UC Davis men's basketball home game against UC San Diego on March 8 as ESPN's final wildcard game, with the matchup now scheduled for broadcast on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. PT – a six-hour shift from the originally announced 2 p.m. PT tip-off.
TICKET INFORMATION
All original game tickets are still valid. Interested fans should contact the Aggie Ticket Office promptly at (530) 752-2471, or aggietickets@ucdavis.edu for purchasing options, as well as any questions surrounding the game.
The nationally televised game will be UC Davis' first game of such on their home campus since Feb. 1, 2024 when the Aggies hosted UC Santa Barbara in a 79-69 win on ESPNU. This marks UC Davis' first home game televised on ESPN2 since the 2015-16 season, when the Aggies hosted a rowdy crowd of 4,573 at what was then the Pavilion – now the University Credit Union Center. The five biggest crowds to pack the University Credit Union Center, since it was reconfigured in 2009, have all taken place during nationally televised UC Davis home games.
UC Davis (15-13, 9-8 Big West) needs just one more win to punch a ticket to the Big West Championship. The Aggies have leaned on their defensive efforts all season, ranking 15th nationally in forced turnovers per game. The Aggies also boast conference scoring leader TY Johnson (21.5 PPG, fifth nationally) and blocks leader Niko Rocak (2.0 BPG).
UC San Diego (24-4, 14-2 Big West) carries a nine-game win streak and ranks second in the country in scoring margin and 37th in NET Ranking. The Tritons are led by the well-balanced attack of Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Hayden Gray and Tyler McGhie. Gray notably ranks first in the country in steals per game, averaging 3.46 a contest.
There have been eight meetings between the two programs during each school's Division I era, with UC Davis holding a 5-3 advantage. The teams split their 2024 regular-season series.
This marks UC Davis' second national TV appearance of 2024-25, following the season opener at Washington on Big Ten Network. The Aggies last appeared on ESPN2 during the 2023-24 Big West Championship, competing in both the semifinal vs. Hawai'i and final vs. Long Beach State.
Next Saturday's contest will also serve as Senior Day for the Aggies, where prior to tip-off, the program will commemorate and honor the careers of the team's five graduating seniors: TY Johnson, Leo DeBruhl, Pablo Tamba, Francesco Borra, and Lukas Prongos.
In addition to this ESPN2 broadcast for UC Davis, ESPN Networks will also be broadcasting the men's semifinal matchups on Friday, March 14 as well as the championship game on Saturday, March 15 for the 2025 Hercules Tires Big West Men's Basketball Championship hosted at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nev.
