Score: UC Davis 74, Cal State Fullerton 69
Location: University Credit Union Center, Davis, Calif.
Records: UC Davis 10-7, 3-3 Big West | Cal State Fullerton 8-11, 3-4 Big West
THE SHORT STORY:Â Aggie Basketball controlled the game right from tip-off Thursday night at the University Credit Union Center, leading wire-to-wire en route to a 74-69 victory over Cal State Fullerton. The Aggies were paced by four double-figure scorers, including a team-high 16 points from Niko Rocak, and used a dominant defense effort, paired with a 36-24 advantage in points in the paint to level their Big West record at 3-3.
COURT SIDE
- Rocak led the Aggies with 16 points on efficient 5-for-7 shooting, while adding five rebounds, two steals and a block. Rocak has now recorded double-digit points and at least one block in three consecutive games.
- Connor Sevilla added 14 points, doing the bulk of his damage from the charity stripe where he went 11-for-13, including clutch makes in the final minute to seal the win.
- Marcus Wilson stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, a team-high nine rebounds, and three assists. The nine rebounds served as a career high as well for Wilson.
- Nils Cooper rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting and was a disruptor on defense with two steals.
- The Aggies' frontcourt dominance was on full display, as they outrebounded the Titans 43-32. Along with Wilson, Isaiah Chappell, led the Aggies in rebounds with nine.
- UC Davis limited Cal St. Fullerton to just 37.5 percent shooting, while the Aggies converted 46.2 percent of their own attempts.
- The Aggie defense neutralized one of the nation's elite transition attacks, holding a Fullerton squad ranked fourth nationally in fastbreak points to just three on the night.
- UC Davis held the Titans to just 21 made field goals, marking Fullerton's lowest output in Big West play and second-lowest total of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UC Davis established its presence early, utilizing effective interior play to build a 10-point advantage midway through the first half, capped by a Marcus Wilson layup at the 10:20 mark.
- The Aggies maintained their defensive intensity, holding the Titans to just 24 first-half points to take a 32-24 lead into the locker room.
- UC Davis came out of the break with good rhythm, extending their lead to 41-27 on another Wilson layup just five minutes into the half.
- The Aggies seemed to break the game open midway through the period, using a run highlighted by a Cyril Franklin Jr. dunk to push the lead to its largest margin at 60-43 with 7:30 remaining.
- Cal St. Fullerton refused to go away however, chipping away at the deficit late to pull within striking distance in the final minute.
- Despite this the Aggies remained composed, hitting the necessary free throws and getting necessary stops on the opposite end to secure the 74-69 victory.
WHAT HEAD COACH JIM LES HAD TO SAY
"All week, that's all we talked about... was defending, pressure, and being a great teammate off the ball. They executed exactly the things that we had emphasized in taking away transition... and taking away those threes. We had the flu bug going through the team all this week... so to have all that going on, and then (see) the defensive intensity... was a testament to them receiving a message. I think that tells you about the character of this group."
UP NEXT
UC Davis stays at home to continue Big West play on Saturday, Jan. 17, facing UC Irvine. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. inside the University Credit Union Center.
