DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis men's basketball returns to University Credit Union Center on Thursday, hosting Menlo at 6 p.m. PT in the second of three consecutive home games to open the 2026-27 season.
The Aggies (0-1) seek their first victory of the season after a 79-75 loss to North Alabama on Monday. UC Davis went 11-2 in games immediately following a loss last season and has won six straight meetings with the Oaks.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Menlo (0-0)
Date: Thursday, Nov. 5
Time: 6 p.m. PT
Location: Davis, Calif. — University Credit Union Center
Watch: MW+
Listen: 96.1 FM HD3 | Online audio
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Aggie Ticket Central | Free student tickets
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
Jalen Stokes led five Aggies in double figures Monday with 16 points, adding six rebounds and three assists. The sophomore helped UC Davis build a 13-point lead in the opening half before North Alabama rallied after the break.
Brayden Fagbemi finished with 13 points, a team-high five assists and a game-high three steals while committing just one turnover. Isaiah Chappell and Connor Sevilla scored 12 points apiece, with Chappell matching his career high by making four 3-pointers in seven attempts.
Ben Abosi made an immediate contribution in his UC Davis debut, scoring 10 points and leading the Aggies with seven rebounds. Six came on the offensive end, accounting for nearly half of the team's 13 offensive boards.
UC Davis forced 16 turnovers, collected 10 steals and scored 21 points off turnovers in the opener. The Aggies will look for more consistent perimeter shooting Thursday after going 6-for-12 from beyond the arc in the first half Monday and 2-for-13 in the second.
SERIES HISTORY
UC Davis leads the all-time series 8-2, including a 96-69 victory at home in last season's opener. Chappell scored 16 points and Sevilla added 14, with each making four 3-pointers. Omer Suljanovic contributed 10 points and five rebounds as the Aggies made 13 threes and forced 24 turnovers. Thursday also brings a familiar face for Ylan Esso-Essis. The UC Davis forward and Menlo guard Daniel Huerta were teammates at Modesto Junior College in 2024-25. Esso-Essis collected three rebounds in his Aggie debut Monday.
SCOUTING MENLO
Menlo begins its second season under head coach Jamison Montgomery and its first in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Oaks finished 5-23 overall and 5-17 in the Pacific West Conference last season. Thursday counts as a regular-season game for UC Davis and an exhibition for Menlo, which opens its regular season Nov. 13 against Central Washington.
Junior guard Kai Brown returns after leading the Oaks with 15.0 points per game last season, including 18 against UC Davis. Senior guard Devon Woods averaged 3.6 assists to lead the team, giving Menlo experienced playmakers as it enters its new conference.
UP NEXT
UC Davis concludes its opening homestand against Incarnate Word on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The Veterans Day matchup tips off at 11:11 a.m. PT at University Credit Union Center and will stream on MW+.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS
UC Davis Athletics represents one of the nation's premier public universities on the NCAA Division I stage, with more than 650 student-athletes competing across 25 sports, including 16 programs in the Mountain West Conference. Located in California's quintessential college town, UC Davis combines championship-level athletics with the academic excellence of the nation's #8 public research university and is home to the nation's No. 1 programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine and sustainability. With a growing national media presence, bold investments in facilities and the student-athlete experience, and a tradition of developing champions in competition, in the classroom and beyond, the Aggies are elevating UC Davis on a national stage.
