STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific men's basketball team hits the road for the first time in two weeks as it travels to UC Davis on Thursday, Dec. 1, and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Dec. 3.
The Tigers (2-5) finished their season-opening homestand earlier this week, capping off the four-game stretch with a matchup against Cal Poly. Donovan Williams and Luke Avdalovic led the Tigers offensively with 13 points apiece. Tyler Beard, the third team member to score in double figures, added 11 points.
Avdalovic, who is tied for third in the country in three-point shooting percentage, knocked down three of his five attempts from distance against the Mustangs. The Folsom, Calif. senior was also the lone team member to go perfect at the free-throw line, connecting on all four attempts.
UC Davis enters Thursday's contest with a 6-2 record, its best start to a season since winning eight of the first 10 games to start the 2017-18 season. The Aggies earned two wins this past week at the Cream City Classic, hosted by Milwaukee, defeating Southeast Missouri State and Boston University in back-to-back contests. The Aggies have also picked up an impressive win over a high-end opponent, defeating Cal, 75-65, on the road in the season opener.
The Aggies have three players averaging in double figures, with Elijah Peppers leading the team with 19.4 points per game. Ty Johnson and Christian Anigwe rank second and third on the team in scoring, averaging 17.4 and 12.4 points per game, respectively.
Defensively, the Aggies have accumulated 330 total rebounds and rank 32nd in the country in rebounds per game with 41.3. The team also ranks among the country's best in defensive rebounds per game, tallying 29.1 for 33rd best in Division I.
Despite dropping both contests last season, the Tigers hold an 80-16 advantage in the all-time series over the Aggies since the first meeting in the 1917-18 season. The Aggies, however, have had the upper hand in the last four meetings, going 4-0 and outscoring the Tigers 273-249 during that span.
After its matchup at UC Davis, Pacific travels south to face off at UC Santa Barbara to close out its second road trip of the season. The Gauchos enter the week with a 4-2 record after falling at Duquesne, 72-61, this past Tuesday. Before their most recent defeat, the Gauchos accumulated four wins in their first five contests, earning wins over San Francisco State, Fresno State, Hampton, and North Alabama.
Ajay Mitchell leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.3 points per game, while Josh Pierre-Louis, Miles Norris, and Andre Kelly have helped propel the Gauchos offensively.
Through the first six games of the season, the Gauchos have shined on the boards, ranking 15th in the country with a 10.4 rebound margin. Kelly leads the squad, averaging 8.7 rebounds per game, while Norris (6.8 rebounds per game) and Pierre-Louis (4.2 rebounds per game) give the Gauchos the upper hand as the team averages 37.7 rebounds per game.
UC Santa Barbara holds the narrow lead in the all-time series over Pacific, winning 55 of the 109 games played since the first meeting on January 18, 1947.
The Tigers have won the last two meetings, including an 80-71 overtime win last season at the Alex G. Spanos Center on December 14, 2021. Four team members scored in double figures during the overtime victory, with Greg Outlaw leading the Tigers in scoring with 15 points. Nick Blake added 14 points and shot 54.5 percent (six-for-11) from the field.
Game Information vs UC Davis
Time: 6 p.m.
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Game Information vs UC Santa Barbara
Time: 2 p.m.
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For more information about the 2022-23 season and future events, follow Pacific men's basketball on social media and download the Pacific Athletics mobile app to keep up with news about your favorite Pacific Tiger teams.
