DAVIS, Calif. — After a 2-0 week with wins over Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis is back in action Thursday, Feb. 12, when they travel to face UC San Diego. The Aggies then return to the University Credit Union Center to host Long Beach State on Saturday, Feb. 14.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN/FOLLOW
Feb. 12 – at UC San Diego | ESPN+ | Live Stats | Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 | @ucdavismbb (X/Instagram)
Feb. 14 – vs. Long Beach State | ESPN+ | Live Stats | Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 | @ucdavismbb (X/Instagram)

GAME NOTES

• Numbers to Know: The Aggies have established a definitive blueprint for success this season, moving to a perfect 8-0 record when they reach the 80-point mark. Defensively, the team is equally dominant when controlling the glass and the perimeter, holding a 6-0 record when keeping opponents under 40% shooting from the field. Efficiency remains the ultimate indicator for this group, as they boast a 12-1 record when finishing with a higher field goal percentage than their opposition.
• Disruptive Defense: UC Davis continues to hang its hat on a high-pressure defensive identity that ranks among the best in the nation. The Aggies force an average of 14.67 turnovers per game, ranking 30th nationally and second in the Big West. This disruption is fueled by active hands and anticipation, leading to 7.8 steals per contest, ranking 82nd nationally.
• Sharing the Rock: Ball movement is the cornerstone of the Aggie offense, which ranks 65th nationally with 16.1 assists per game and a 61.2% assist-to-field-goal-made ratio. Five different players are averaging at least nine points per game, and UC Davis has recorded double-digit assists in every game this season, including 18 assists in four of its last six outings.
• Protecting Home Court: The University Credit Union Center has become a true fortress, with UC Davis posting an 11-3 home record this season. Uniform trends have also favored the Aggies, who are 7-3 when wearing white and 3-1 when wearing Tahoe Blue.
• Big West Legacy: Head Coach Jim Les continues to cement his legacy as one of the top coaches in conference history
  • 127 career Big West victories
  • 7th all-time in conference history
  • One of three active Big West coaches with 100+ league wins (Eran Ganot and Russ Turner)
  • 225 total wins at UC Davis, passing Jerry Pimm on the all-time list on Saturday, Jan. 31
• Vogt Earns National Recognition: Assistant Coach Kyle Vogt was named to the Silver Waves Media Top 100 Mid-Major Assistant Coaches and GMs list. Vogt has been instrumental in building the Aggies' defensive identity, with UC Davis ranking inside the top 50 nationally in forcing turnovers in six of the last eight seasons.
• Cooking With Connor: Connor Sevilla has emerged as one of the Big West's most reliable closers, leading the conference and ranking 33rd nationally in free-throw percentage at 89.2%. Sevilla is averaging 13.8 points per game, ranks fifth in the conference in total three-pointers made, and leads the league at 44.3% from deep, a figure that ranks seventh nationally.
• Cooper's Continued Ascent: Nils Cooper leads UC Davis in efficiency, shooting 55.5% from the field while averaging 13.1 points per game. He ranks eighth in the Big West in steals per game at 1.65 and has reached double figures 20 times in his collegiate career.
• Niko the Anchor: Niko Rocak anchors the interior for UC Davis, leading the team and ranking third in the Big West with 36 total blocks at 1.57 per game. Rocak is shooting 53.9% from the floor, leads the team with 5.0 rebounds per game, and recorded 10 points and four blocks against UC Santa Barbara for his fifth game this season with three or more blocks.
• Marcus Making His Mark: Marcus Wilson earned Big West Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors after averaging 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in two UC Davis wins. The redshirt freshman scored 24 points in back-to-back games against UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly and is averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on the season.
• Stokes Stepping Up: Freshman Jalen Stokes earned his first Big West start on January 31 and responded with 13 points and five rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield. UC Davis is 3-0 in games with the current starting lineup.
• Call on Carl: Carl Daughtery Jr. has elevated his production in conference play, shooting 47.4% from three in Big West games and making multiple three-pointers in nine of his last 10 outings.
• Player Trends to Watch: Brayden Fagbemi leads the Aggies in assists per game at 4.3 and total steals with 43, ranking first in the Big West in steals per game and third in assist-to-turnover ratio. Isaiah Chappell continues to provide versatility at 9.2 points per game, while freshman Omer Suljanovic remains a steady frontcourt contributor.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

• UC San Diego is led by Tom Beattie and Emanuel Prospere II, with Beattie ranking nationally top-120 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.32) and both guards sitting top-10 in the conference in assists and steals, anchoring a backcourt that values ball security and pressure defense.
• Up front, the Tritons get production on the glass from Bol Dengdit and Hudson Mayes, while Beattie also rates top-10 in the league in defensive rebounds per game.
• Long Beach State on the other hand is led by Gavin Sykes, who ranks third in the conference in points per game.
• As a team, The Beach are well rounded overall, notably though ranking 78th in the country in turnovers forced per game.

SEASON NOTES

• Returning Ags: Niko Rocak enters his third season with UC Davis after anchoring the Aggie frontcourt with 6.8 rebounds per game and setting the program's single-season (58) and single-game (6) blocks records. His defensive presence and leadership will again serve as a stabilizing force in the paint. Connor Sevilla, now in his third year, started 24 games last season and averaged 8.9 points per game. He led UC Davis with 63 made threes and ranked among Big West leaders at the free-throw line, converting 91 percent of his attempts. His poise and perimeter shooting remain key offensive pieces. Carl Daughtery Jr. returns for his second season after playing all 32 games last year. The guard averaged 5.0 points and 1.8 rebounds while knocking down 26 threes. His scoring and defensive versatility give the Aggies additional lineup flexibility. Nils Cooper, son of Hall of Famer Michael Cooper, played 30 games last season and averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds. He posted a career-high 13 rebounds against Big West champion UC San Diego and should continue to be an active wing defender and rebounder while stepping into a larger role offensively this year. Isaiah Chappell, son of NCAA champion Mike Chappell, appeared in 21 games and connected on nine threes before an injury shortened his season. A New Zealand U18 national team member, he provides depth, shooting and athleticism to the Aggie frontcourt.
• New Faces: Brayden Fagbemi joins UC Davis after averaging 11.4 points, 4.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals as a sophomore at Central Arkansas, where he started 27 games and led the team in steals. The Illinois native began his career at Johns Hopkins, earning D3hoops.com Region V and Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year honors after posting 13.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Marcus Wilson, a three-star guard from Washington State, brings size and athleticism to the Aggie backcourt. He appeared in four games last season before injury and was previously ranked as the No. 1 recruit in New Mexico's 2024 class by PrepHoops. Cyril "CJ" Franklin Jr. transfers from the College of Southern Nevada, where he averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while earning ACCAC Freshman of the Year and all-conference honors. His all-around game provides scoring and playmaking versatility. Ylan Esso-Essis from France, comes from Modesto JC after averaging 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds while earning Big 8 Player of the Year and NABC All-America honors. Jonathan Noudjihidi joins from Coahoma CC after averaging 10.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He posted six double-doubles and ranked among conference leaders in shooting percentage at 57.8. Jalen Stokes, from Dougherty Valley High School, was a four-year starter and scored 1,607 career points. The Bay Area standout averaged 24 points and nine rebounds as a senior, earning NCS Player of the Year and All-State honors. Chase Rawlins, from local Folsom High School, was a three-time academic all-conference honoree who averaged 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists. He earned league co-MVP and section MVP honors while leading his team to a championship. Abdullah Amzil, from Finland's Drive Academy, was named the 2023–24 Finnish U19 Player of the Year after averaging 14.4 points and six rebounds. He boosted his scoring to 21 points per game in the playoffs and represents Finland internationally. Omer Suljanovic, from Austria's national team and UCC Assigeco Piacenza, led Italy's U19 league in scoring at 24.2 points per game. He made his senior national team debut for Austria at age 17 and brings a combination of size and perimeter skill to the Aggie frontcourt.
• Coaching Staff Continuity and Additions: UC Davis maintains one of the most stable staffs in Division I, with head coach Jim Les, associate head coach Kevin Nosek, and assistants Kyle Vogt and Jonathan Metzger-Jones working together since 2016-17. This group together represents the longest-tenured staff in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The staff expands this year with three additions: Fortune Solomon, Mike Kosich, and Reece Lakritz. Solomon joins as an assistant coach after serving with the Brooklyn Nets' G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, and brings more than a decade of experience across the NBA, G League, and international basketball. He also serves as an assistant with the South Sudan National Team, helping guide the program to its first Olympic berth. Kosich arrives as assistant coach and chief of staff following roles at San Diego State and South Alabama. His experience in roster construction, scouting, and day-to-day operations will play a major role as UC Davis transitions to the Mountain West. Lakritz, a UC Davis student and former team manager, becomes the program's video coordinator and assistant director of basketball operations. He has been part of the Aggie program since 2023.
• International Experience and Family Connections: UC Davis features one of the most globally connected and family-rooted rosters in Division I. Several Aggies bring international playing experience or heritage, while others continue family legacies that have shaped the program's identity both on and off the court. Graduate forward Niko Rocak represents Switzerland after competing for the nation's U20 team and earning his first senior national team cap earlier this summer. Rocak, fluent in multiple languages, is also one of the program's top academic performers, pursuing an MBA after earning his degree in chemistry. Freshman forward Omer Suljanovic, from Vienna, Austria, made his senior national team debut at just 17 years old, becoming one of the youngest players in the world to appear in a FIBA qualifying window. He is the son of longtime professional player and coach Ramiz Suljanovic, who spent more than a decade in European basketball. His brother, Imran, is also a freshman on the men's basketball team at St. John's. Freshman Abdullah Amzil, from Finland, earned Finnish U19 Player of the Year honors and has represented Finland at multiple youth levels. Basketball runs in his family as well. His brother Mustapha starred at Dayton and New Mexico before signing professionally in Europe, and his sister Latifa played collegiately at Detroit Mercy. Sophomore Isaiah Chappell competed for New Zealand's U18 National Team and follows the example of his father, Mike Chappell, who won an NCAA championship at Michigan State and played professionally in the Australian NBL. Junior Nils Cooper, a California native, represented the Swedish U18 National Team and is the son of Hall of Famer Michael Cooper, a five-time NBA champion and WNBA championship coach who most recently led the BIG3's Miami 305 to a league title. Sophomore Ylan Esso-Essis, from France, developed within the Metropolitans 92 program, one of Europe's premier basketball clubs. Jonathan Noudjihidi, born in N'Djamena, Chad, adds further international perspective to the Aggies' lineup and is one of several players who bring a truly global background to Davis. The 2025-26 Aggies reflect the growing international reach of college basketball, representing Switzerland, Austria, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, France, and Chad.
• Excellence in the Classroom – The UC Davis Standard: UC Davis men's basketball continues to set the academic standard within the Big West, maintaining a 98 percent graduation rate and a team GPA above 3.0. The Aggies also led all UC Davis men's programs in winter quarter GPA. Niko Rocak, Connor Sevilla, and Nils Cooper earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors last season, recognizing student-athletes who maintain a minimum 3.50 GPA and play in at least 90 percent of games. The 2025-26 roster features 14 student-athletes representing seven different majors. Among the highlights are Niko Rocak, who is part of the master's of management program, and Brayden Fagbemi, who is a human development major on a pre-med track. The blend of majors reflects UC Davis' academic diversity and its commitment to preparing student-athletes for long-term success beyond basketball.
• From Past to Present to Future: The 2025-26 season is the 19th for UC Davis as a member of the Big West Conference. UC Davis will join the Mountain West for the 2026-27 season. Previous conference affiliations include: Big West Conference (2007-present), Division I Independent (2004-2007), California Collegiate Athletic Association (1998-2004), Northern California Athletic Conference (1982-1998), Far West Conference (1925-1982).
• Program Legacy and Success: UC Davis men's basketball has built a lasting tradition of success across eras. The Aggies captured the 1998 NCAA Division II national championship, made 12 NCAA regional appearances, and have since risen to become a consistent Division I contender. UC Davis has won two Big West regular-season titles (2015, 2018), a Big West Tournament championship (2017), and earned NCAA Tournament (2017) and NIT appearances (2015, 2018). Over the past decade, the Aggies have posted winning records in seven of ten seasons, highlighted by multiple 20-win campaigns. The 2014-15 squad set the Division I program record with 25 victories, while the 2017 team delivered UC Davis' first Division I NCAA Tournament win by defeating NC Central in the First Four. Signature wins include Utah State, California, Oregon State, Washington State, and Grand Canyon — a 75-68 road victory that snapped the Lopes' 18-game home winning streak, one of the nation's longest at the time. Professional success stories include T.J. Shorts II (2023 EuroCup MVP, Greece), Chima Moneke (EuroCup MVP, former Sacramento King), Elijah Pepper (Perth Wildcats, NBL), Brynton Lemar (Europe), Ezra Manjon (Italy), and A.J. John (Japan, Belgium, Israel, and Mexico). Beyond the court, notable Aggie alumni include Corey Hawkins (assistant coach, Orlando Magic), Joe Harden (founder, Salty Goats Winery), Mark Payne (vice president, Morgan Stanley), Ryan Howley (vice president, Bessemer Trust), and entrepreneurs Ryan Sypkens and Justin Dueck. UC Davis basketball has proven itself as a program built to win, graduate, and prepare players for success in every stage of life.