Jan. 17, 2008

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. --- UC Davis took a 17-0 lead to open the game and was never threatened in a 74-57 Big West Conference win over UC Irvine Thursday night at The Pavilion in Davis.

The Aggies hit 12 of 21 threes for 57.1 percent in the game and shot 51.2 percent from the field. UCI hit just 3 of 20 from three-point range and shot 36.2 percent overall from the field.

The Aggies (8-9, 2-2) hit six of their first eight shots in taking a 17-0 lead at the 15:26 mark after a three-pointer by Kyle Brucculeri.

Patrick Sanders, who led UCI (7-10, 2-2) with 18 points, scored the Anteaters' first points of the night on a jumper with 14:48 left in the first half.

A layup by Brett Lauer with 5:49 remaining in the opening half drew UCI within 25-15 before the Aggies went on a 9-2 run to lead 34-17 on a dunk by Mark Payne with 2:34 left. The Anteaters scored the final three baskets of the half to trail 34-23 at intermission.

UC Davis built its biggest lead of the game at 53-30 on a free throw by Payne with 11:03 remaining in the game. UCI closed the gap to 12 points twice down the stretch, the last coming at 64-52 with 3:57 left on a pair of free throws by Kevin Bland.

Michael Hunter added 10 points and three assists for the Anteaters, who committed a season-low six turnovers but were out-rebounded by the Aggies, 36-23.

David Carter led a quartet of UC Davis players in double figures with 19 points. Vince Oliver added 18 points, Brucculeri 13 and Payne 11.

"UC Davis shot the ball very well and got after us right from the beginning of the game," UCI head coach Pat Douglass said. "We did not respond to their physical challenge."