DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis men's basketball returns to the national stage, hosting UC San Diego for the season's final regular season game of the year, while also celebrating Senior Day for the 2024-25 graduating class of Aggies.
Steve Quis (play-by-play) and Ben Braun (color) will be on the call for the marquee matchup on ESPN2.
GAME INFO
Who: UC San Diego Tritons
When: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Where: University Credit Union Center
Time: 8 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
CLINCHED A SPOT
UC Davis has clinched a spot in the Big West Championship, one of six teams to do so. With a 9-10 record in league play and one game remaining, the Aggies have officially locked in the sixth seed, and will play their first game of the Big West Championship on Wednesday, March 12 at 8:30 p.m. PT.
UC San Diego (27-4, 17-2) on the other hand, has a double-bye secured at the championship and clinched a share of the regular season title with Thursday's win over Long Beach State.
LAST TIME OUT
UC Davis suffered an 88-59 defeat to UC Irvine on Thursday night at the University Credit Union Center.
TY Johnson led the Aggies with a team-high 24 points, marking his 43rd career game with 20 or more points and his 21st such performance this season. Johnson also made history, becoming UC Davis' all-time leader in free throws made for both a single season and a career. He surpassed
Elijah Pepper's previous records, adding to his existing single-game free-throw record. Johnson now has 175 free throws and counting this season and 464 and counting for his career.
SENIOR DAY FOR FIVE AGGIES
This Saturday, UC Davis Men's Basketball will honor five graduating seniors:
Lukas Prongos,
Francesco Borra,
Pablo Tamba,
Leo DeBruhl, and
TY Johnson.
ESPN2 IS HEADING TO DAVIS
UC Davis' home game against UC San Diego on March 8 has been selected as ESPN's final wildcard game, shifting to an 8 p.m. PT tip-off on ESPN2. This marks the Aggies' first home game on ESPN2 since the 2015-16 season and their second national TV appearance this year, following their season opener at Washington on Big Ten Network.
AGGIE SINGLE-SEASON RANKS TO DATE (DIVISION I ERA RECORDS)
- TY Johnson's 70 steals have eclipsed TJ Shorts' 63 for the most in a single season during UC Davis' Division I era.
- Johnson's 21.7 points per game rank second all-time for a season, trailing only Elijah Pepper's 22.5 points per game in 2022-23.
- Niko Rocak's 58 blocks make him UC Davis' all-time single-season blocks leader.
NOTABLE RANKS / ACCOLADES
TY Johnson has lived up to his Preseason All-American Honorable Mention status, earning national recognition as one of the five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week and twice being named Big West Player of the Week. He ranks 5th nationally and 1st in the Big West with 21.7 points per game. Johnson has made 175 free throws this season, breaking UC Davis' single-season and career records, and now sits at 464 career free throws made. Defensively, he ranks 2nd in the Big West and 13th nationally with 2.33 steals per game, totaling 70 steals this season.
Niko Rocak has been a force on both ends of the floor, ranking 1st in the Big West and 28th nationally with 1.93 blocks per game. His 58 total blocks this season are a program record. Rocak also ranks 4th in the conference with 7.0 rebounds per game, showcasing his versatility as a rim protector and rebounder.
Connor Sevilla has been a key contributor from beyond the arc, ranking 9th in the Big West with 2.00 three-pointers per game and 8th in three-point attempts (162).
AGGIES IN THE RANKINGS
UC Davis ranks 1st in the Big West and 122nd nationally in blocks per game (3.6). The Aggies also excel in forcing turnovers, ranking 2nd in the conference and 15th nationally with 15.33 turnovers forced per game. Their 2.2 turnover margin ranks 2nd in the Big West and 58th nationally.
Offensively, UC Davis ranks 3rd in the Big West and 72nd nationally in free throw attempts per game (21.3). They also rank 4th in the conference in free throws made per game (15.8), 61st nationally.
Also defensively, UC Davis ranks 4th in the conference and 113th nationally in scoring defense (69.8 points allowed per game). They also rank 5th in the Big West in field goal percentage defense (42.5%), 102nd nationally. Finally, the Aggies rank 6th in the Big West in three-point percentage defense (34.3%).
DEFENSE WINS…
Defense has been the cornerstone of UC Davis' success this season. The Aggies have held opponents under 20 points in the first half multiple times, including limiting UC Santa Barbara to a season-low 17 points at the break in January. They also held Cal Poly to 34.7% shooting and a season-low 54 points, well below their average of 81.1 points per game they had entering the matchup.
UC Davis is 12-2 in games where they allow fewer than 70 points.
OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY
The Aggies are 14-5 this season when shooting above 40% from the field.
Pablo Tamba has been a key contributor, ranking third in the Big West with a 57.9% field goal percentage.
YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL
TY Johnson has scored 20 or more points in four straight games and had a nine-game streak earlier this season, averaging 25.2 points per game during that span. He also scored 30+ points in three of those games. Johnson had 24 points in the Aggies latest outing against UC Irvine, and has scored 30 or more points five times this season.
LEO LEADING THE CHARGE
Leo DeBruhl had a career game against Cal State Fullerton on February 8, recording 11 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and six steals. He followed that up with a career-high 13 rebounds against UC Riverside on February 13, the most by any Aggie this season. Leo also ranks top-10 in the Big West in steals, top-15 in assists, and has led the Aggies in assists in 16 games this season.
NIKO ROCAK: THE ANCHOR
Niko Rocak became UC Davis' all-time single season leader in blocks after swatting four shots against Cal State Fullerton on February 8. He is on pace to break every advanced metric in program history for blocks.
TY JOHNSON: BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK TO BEGIN CONFERENCE
UC Davis senior
TY Johnson averaged 28.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 steals in two road wins to claim The Big West Men's Basketball Player of the Week award on January 20. It was Johnson's third career weekly honor, having won it once earlier this season and one other time in 2023-24.
The Aggie guard shot 5-for-12 from long distance and a perfect 13-for-13 from the charity stripe in the two victories. Johnson posted a game-high 21 points, five rebounds and two steals in a 65-54 triumph at Cal Poly.
At UC Santa Barbara, the Chicago native went for a game-high 35 points, shooting 12-of-23 from the floor and 9-for-9 from the free throw line, with two assists and two steals in a 64-60 win. Johnson's 35 points tied a career-high and marked the fourth 30+ point performance this season.
ANOTHER RECORD IN THE WAITING
TY Johnson continues to place his name amongst the Aggie greats. Scoring 31 points against Long Beach State on Jan. 11, he entered into UC Davis' top 10 all-time career scoring leaders. Johnson was able to enter the top 10 mostly in part to his presence at the free throw line, where he made a program record 18 free throws, breaking the past record of 17, set by Fowzi Abdelsamad.
Speaking of free throws, With nine free throws in Thursday's game against UC Irvine, he surpassed
Elijah Pepper's single-season program record of 169 free throws made, now sitting at 175 makes and counting. Johnson has also broken Pepper's career record of 460 free throws made, with 464 makes and counting in his Aggie career.
With 1,681 career points, (1,670 at UC Davis) Johnson is one of only 26 Aggies in history to reach 1,000 career points. He currently ranks 4th all-time among Aggies, needing 24 points to tie for 3rd all-time.
On the defensive side of things, Johnson has 189 steals in his career, (185 at UC Davis) and needs two more steals to become second all-time career in steals in UC Davis history, surpassing Dante Ross' mark of 186 steals from 1996-99.
Elijah Pepper is the Aggies all-time leader in steals with 222.
DECEMBER BELONGS TO THE AGGIES
UC Davis navigated a tough non-conference schedule, finishing December with a 5-1 record, with their only loss against Pepperdine. Entering conference play, the Aggies bounced back from a two-game losing streak with a record-setting 33 forced turnovers in a 77-66 win over Cal Poly.
TY Johnson's 20+ point performance propelled them to a 71-60 victory over UC Santa Barbara, marking their second consecutive 2-0 start in Big West play. Continuing their momentum, UC Davis secured a 69-62 win over Sacramento State in the 122nd Causeway matchup and a 74-66 victory against Idaho, with standout contributions from
Niko Rocak. Although their streak ended at Pepperdine, they dominated Cal Maritime 109-46, with Johnson recording his second career double-double.
BEGINNING OF CONFERENCE PLAY
This season in the Big West brought the introduction of "B0LD Week," and the Aggies made a statement by defeating both Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara, starting their conference play 2-0 for the second consecutive year.
UC Davis showcased their signature "Aggie Basketball," setting a Division I era program record by forcing 33 turnovers against Cal Poly. They followed that up with a balanced offensive performance, where five Aggies scored in double figures, securing a victory over UC Santa Barbara. The five Aggies in double figures was the first time an Aggie team had done so since 2022.
JOINING THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN 2026-27
The University of California, Davis has accepted a formal invitation to join the Mountain West Conference starting July 1, 2026.
"Our campus leadership, students, Aggie alumni, fans, the Davis community and the broader Sacramento region all recognize the unique spirit of UC Davis and carry Aggie Pride with them each and every day," said UC Davis Director of Athletics
Rocko DeLuca. "Now is the time to showcase Aggie Pride on a national stage, and the Mountain West's brand and strategy align perfectly with our aspirations."
The Aggies will compete in all Mountain West Conference-sponsored sports, except for football, which will continue to participate in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in the Big Sky Conference. Men's and women's water polo as well as beach volleyball will seek to remain in the Big West through affiliate membership. No changes will occur with membership agreements for equestrian, field hockey and lacrosse.
With the move to Mountain West, UC Davis has committed to continuing to invest in its basketball program, which will parallel its new conference brethren.
Starting no later than the 2026-27 academic year, the Mountain West will feature the United States Air Force Academy; University of California, Davis; Grand Canyon University; University of Hawai'i at Mānoa; University of Nevada, Reno; University of New Mexico; San José State University; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of Texas, El Paso and the University of Wyoming.
LOU HENSON AWARD "EARLY SEASON" WATCH LIST
College Insider has released the Lou Henson "Early Season" Watch List, naming UC Davis senior guard
TY Johnson as one of the 50 players. The Lou Henson award, honoring the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach, is presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball.
BIG-TIME WEEKLY HONORS
TY Johnson picked up national recognition for his first week of play, being named one of the five, Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for games ending Sunday, Nov. 10.
After being named a Preseason All-American Honorable Mention by Bracketeer.Org, Johnson has lived up to expectations. In the first week, Johnson averaged 32.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.
Johnson was also named the Big West Player of the Week for his efforts.
CAUSING HAVOC
The Aggies have become known throughout the college basketball world as a team that preaches defense under Head Coach
Jim Les. True to their reputation, the Aggies currently rank 15th nationally in turnovers forced per game. This feat continues the defensive intent displayed by UC Davis last season, where they consistently led the conference in this category from start to finish.
No other game this season showed the extent of this havoc than the Cal Poly win to begin conference play, in which the Aggies forced 33 turnovers, the most by an Aggie team in the program's Division I era.
This focus on defense and playing fast bodes well for the Aggies when they start out strong, posting a 10-3 record when leading at halftime this year.
200 WINS AS AN AGGIE
Head Coach
Jim Les in his 14th season at UC Davis reached 350 career victories after the Aggies road win at Idaho. Les also recorded his 200th win as an Aggie on December 7th, with UC Davis downing UC Santa Barbara to improve to 2-0 in Big West action for the second consecutive season.
Win 198 at UC Davis for Coach Les was a special one, downing GCU 75-68 to snap the Lopes' 18-game home winning streak, the seventh longest home-game winning streak in the country at the time.
INTERNATIONAL AGGIE HOOPS
UC Davis celebrated International Day when the team hosted Cal State Fullerton earlier in the year. International players have been a big part of UC Davis rosters and this year is no different with six players all having international ties:
AGGIES IN THE CLASSROOM
The 16 rostered Aggies are in 12 different majors, including
Niko Rocak, who is pursuing an MBA after graduating with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry. 12 of the 16 Aggies on the team have GPAs of 3.0 or higher.
SPECIAL SENIOR CLASS
UC Davis' entire senior class from last year, are all now playing professional basketball.
Elijah Pepper, the program's all-time leader in steals and points, signed with the Perth Wildcats.
Ade Adebayo joined the London Lions,
Kane Milling signed with KK Vršac in Serbia, and
Sam Manu was selected first overall in the TPBL by the Taipei Mars.
UC DAVIS, UC CULTURE
Most cohesive staff currently in college basketball. Head coach
Jim Les, associate head coach
Kevin Nosek, assistant coach
Kyle Vogt and assistant coach
Jonathan Metzger-Jones have been together at UC Davis since the 2016-17 season, while Les, Nosek, and Vogt have coached together at UC Davis since the 2012-13 season.
They together, represent the longest tenured coaching staff within Division I basketball.
PRESEASON PREVIEW
The Big West Conference named
TY Johnson to the Preseason Coaches' Team, with the Aggies picked to finish fifth in the standings.
