UC Davis

UC Davis punches NCAA Tournament ticket thanks to epic second-half comeback

Scott Marsh previews the Big West Tournament for UC Davis Men's Basketball.

TJ Shorts II notches sixth 20-point game of the season Thursday night vs. Hawai’i.

Senior communication major TJ Shorts II and junior communication major Matt Neufeld led all scorers with 17 points in Saturday’s non-conference game at the Pavilion, junior communication major Rogers Printup came off the bench to score a season-high 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting overall, and freshman guard Caleb Fuller scored a career-high 12 points to help UC Davis defeat William Jessup, 83-65, in the final home game of 2018.

The Aggies improve to 10-2 for the year and will face Big Sky Conference rival Eastern Washington in next Saturday's quarterfinal. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PST at Roos Field.

By scoring 12 of the first 14 points in Thursday's non-conference home game at the Pavilion, a five minute and 35 second block of action that included a 10-0 scoring run, UC Davis held an early double-digit advantage, one that grew to a game-high 18 points, in its 73-57 wire-to-wire victory versus Northern Arizona.

"These awards are a result of working at a great place, with great leadership that facilitates success," said Hawkins. "We have an amazing staff and special student-athletes."

UC Davis head coach Dan Hawkins is one of 15 coaches selected on Monday as finalists for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the national coach of the year.

UC Davis' 56 points were the most scored by a Sacramento State opponent this year; the Hornets' 13 points is a season-low total.

Northern California has been experiencing such terrible air quality that schools are closing, business are closing, and people are being advised to wear facemasks whenever going outdoors. The 65th Causeway Classic between Sacramento State University and UC Davis will be relocating to the University of Nevada-Reno's Mackay Stadium as a result of the air quality caused by the Camp Fire.