Aggies Stun GCU; Snap Lopes’ 18-game home hitting streak

On By Littum

Score: UC Davis 75, Grand Canyon 68
Location: Phoenix, Ariz.
Records: UC Davis 3-2 (0-0), Grand Canyon 2-2 (0-0)

The short story: Aggie Basketball was on full display in Phoenix as UC Davis entered a hostile Global Credit Union Arena and defeated Grand Canyon 75-68, snapping Lopes’ 18-game home hitting streak, which was the seventh-longest in the nation.

COURT SIDE

  • Four Aggies scored in double figures, led by TY Johnsonwho had 21 points and four steals

  • Johnson, the NCAA’s leading scorer, extended his 20+ point streak after scoring 20 or more points in all five Aggies games to begin the season

  • The Aggie defense made a difference all night, holding Grand Canyon to just 16 percent from deep in a 4-for-25 shooting performance and just 37.3 percent shooting from the field

  • Leo DeBruhl added 16 points and two steals, while Pablo Tamba contributed 15 points

  • Tamba’s energy all night saw him contribute across the court, adding nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks

  • Listed by at Niko Rocak four offensive rebounds, UC Davis excelled by crashing the offensive glass and pulled down 10 boards, resulting in 11 second-chance points

  • UC Davis also got a game-high 13 rebounds from Rocak

  • After leading the conference in turnovers forced a season ago, UC Davis’ defense caused problems for Lopes all night, forcing 18 Grand Canyon turnovers and converting those takeaways into 22 points on the offensive end, with Johnson’s four steal leading.

  • The Aggies shot well from three-point range, making seven of 15 long-range attempts Connor Seville and DeBruhl responsible for all seven brands

  • UC Davis maintained control from the tip-off and never trailed in the second half en route to the win

HOW IT SEEN

  • The Aggies got off to a blistering start with three players scoring in double figures after the first 20 minutes

  • After jumping out to a 37-33 advantage, UC Davis went on a 9-0 run with 2:42 left in the first half to extend its lead to 46-33

  • Lopes answered with a bucket in the final minute, but still went into halftime trailing 46-35

  • UC Davis took advantage of 10 Grand Canyon turnovers in the period and converted them into 13 points

  • UC Davis held onto its lead before going on a 6-0 run, capped by a Seville three-pointer, to extend the lead to 64-49 with 7:39 left.

  • The Antelopes narrowed the margin somewhat before the game ended, but the Aggies were able to silence the raucous Lope fans and secure a 75-68 victory

  • UC Davis capitalized on eight Grand Canyon turnovers in the period and tallied nine points off those turnovers to help snap the seventh-longest home hitting streak in the nation

WHAT HEAD COACH JIM LES HAD TO SAY

“If we can play like that and win here on the road, we can win anywhere … I thought the team was so connected, even in times of adversity, and we stayed calm. When we absolutely needed to play, at both ends of the floor, we made it up.

“Niko was a monster; he affected so many games on the edge. Pablo with the big block at the end. Connor with the minutes off the bench. I thought Nils was great defensively; he allowed us to switch a lot of things and sit down and guard.

“Just so proud of these guys. Totally a team win… This is Aggie Basketball at its best.”

UP NEXT: UC Davis returns home next week, hosting Norfolk State on Monday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. 6pm PT inside the University Credit Union Center.