Score: UC Davis 67, Cal Poly 58
Location: University Credit Union Center, Davis, Calif.
Records: UC Davis 15-9, 8-5 Big West | Cal Poly 9-16, 5-8 Big West
THE SHORT STORY: In a game defined by grit, UC Davis avenged an earlier loss to Cal Poly with a 67-58 victory on Saturday, extending their winning streak to three games. While Marcus Wilson provided the steady hand with 24 points, the Aggies found a way to win through a total team effort—overcoming a second-half deficit, unleashing a suffocating defense that held the Mustangs to a season-low 58 points, and getting a spark from Connor Sevilla, who scored all 19 of his points in the second half.
COURT SIDE
- Marcus Wilson was the offensive anchor, matching his career-high for the second consecutive game with 24 points. He shot 8-of-16 from the field and was a reliable 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
- Connor Sevilla overcame first-half foul trouble to explode for 19 points in the second half, knocking down 5-of-13 from three-point range.
- Brayden Fagbemi filled the stat sheet, pulling down nine rebounds to go with four assists and three steals.
- The Aggies held Cal Poly to just 58 points, the Mustangs' lowest scoring output of the entire season and the third-fewest points allowed by UC Davis this year.
- UC Davis' defense was disruptive, forcing 19 turnovers and converting them into 22 critical points.
- The Aggies grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, their highest total in a conference game this season, leading to critical second-chance opportunities.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first half was as much of a defensive grind as it was both teams just not getting shots to fall. In the period, UC Davis was able to force nine turnovers and limit the Mustangs to just 20.7% from the field and 11.8% from three, but still trailed narrowly at the break, 22-21.
- Cal Poly came out of the locker room hot, using a 7-0 run to build momentum and eventually taking a 44-36 lead, their largest of the game.
- That is when the game flipped. Sevilla, fresh off the bench, along with Wilson, ignited the offense. It would result in an 11-0 Aggie charge, to erase the deficit and give UC Davis a 58-54 lead with under five minutes to play.
- Down the stretch, the Aggies found a way. With UC Davis clinging to a 60-58 lead, Sevilla delivered the dagger—a long-range bomb from well beyond the NBA line—to make it 63-58 with 1:22 remaining.
- The defense, which held Poly to just 36 second-half points, got the necessary stops, and free throws in the final minute would secure the 67-58 win.
UP NEXT
UC Davis hits the road looking to keep the streak alive, traveling to face UC San Diego on Thursday, Feb. 12. Tip-off from La Jolla is scheduled for 7 p.m.
