SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Interstat) — Nils Cooper scored 19 points to lead UC Davis to a 93-86 victory over UC Santa Barbara in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Thunderdome. The Aggies (9-6, 2-1) used a 50-point second half to pull away after trailing 47-43 at halftime. The Gauchos (9-7, 1-3) could not maintain their early offensive pace despite 20 points from Miro Little. UC Davis was more efficient, posting a 126.7 offensive rating and making 20 of 24 free throws. The Aggies also forced eight steals and outscored UC Santa Barbara 13-2 in second-chance points off seven offensive rebounds. Carl Daughtery added 16 points for UC Davis. CJ Shaw led the Gauchos with 18 points. Attendance was 2,091.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Interstat) — In a high-octane Big West Conference shootout defined by offensive efficiency and a pivotal second-half surge, the UC Davis Aggies outlasted the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 93-86 on Thursday night at the Thunderdome. The game, played before a crowd of 2,091, saw the Aggies overcome a hot-shooting first half from the Gauchos and a pregame projection that heavily favored the home team. UC Davis improved to 9-6 overall, while UC Santa Barbara fell to 9-7. The first half was a remarkable display of marksmanship, with both teams trading blows at a blistering pace. UC Santa Barbara, fueled by the backcourt duo of Miro Little and Aidan Mahaney, shot a scorching 12 for 24 from three-point range before halftime. Little, a guard from Tampere, Finland, had 20 points and five assists for the game, while Mahaney added 16 points. The Gauchos led by as many as 11 points early and took a 47-43 lead into the break despite 13 first-half points from UC Davis guard Connor Sevilla. The most important part of the game, however, unfolded after halftime. The Aggies tightened their defense, disrupted the Gauchos’ rhythm, and began to dominate the margins. UC Davis turned a four-point deficit into a lead they would not relinquish with a 15-4 run early in the second half. The run was emblematic of the Aggies’ winning formula: relentless defensive pressure leading to transition opportunities and second-chance points. UC Davis guard Nils Cooper, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from Santa Monica, was the catalyst. He scored 19 points, all in the second half, and added four assists and a block. His activity on both ends helped swing the momentum decisively. Marcus Wilson contributed 14 points and five assists, while Carl Daughtery came off the bench to score 16 points, including four three-pointers. The statistical disparity told the story of UC Davis’s second-half control. The Aggies, who entered the game with a national-leading offensive rating, posted a mark of 126.7 for the game, scoring 93 points on just 73 possessions. They complemented their efficient shooting — 30 of 58 from the floor and 13 of 32 from deep — with a dominant performance on the glass and in creating extra opportunities. UC Davis grabbed seven offensive rebounds to UC Santa Barbara’s two, and their eight steals led to a 19-9 advantage in points off turnovers. Conversely, the Gauchos, who also shot well at 29 for 53 overall and 12 for 24 from three-point range, were hampered by 16 missed free throws, finishing 16 of 25 at the line. They also managed only four assists as a team, a season-low, as the Aggies’ defensive intensity increased. CJ Shaw led UC Santa Barbara with 18 points. The Aggies’ bench outscored the Gauchos’ reserves 38-8, with key contributions from Daughtery, Brayden Fagbemi (10 points, five assists), and Niko Rocak (12 points, two blocks). UC Davis also protected the ball well down the stretch, committing only 11 turnovers while forcing nine. The victory marked a significant road win for UC Davis, which had been installed as a 3.5-point underdog. The combined score of 179 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 149.5, highlighting the offensive nature of the contest. UC Davis looks to continue its momentum on the road at Cal Poly on Saturday. UC Santa Barbara, seeking to rebound from consecutive conference losses, travels to face Cal State Bakersfield next Thursday. The two teams will meet again in Davis on Feb. 5.

Preview: UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Interstat) — Two Big West rivals seeking momentum will meet Thursday when the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos host the UC Davis Aggies in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game at the Thunderdome. The Gauchos (9-6) enter conference play looking to snap a two-game skid after road losses to Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge. UC Santa Barbara’s offense has been inconsistent, but guard CJ Shaw provides a reliable spark. He is averaging 16.3 points over his last three games, including a 20-point performance in the loss to Northridge on Jan. 3. The visiting Aggies (8-6) are also coming off a narrow home defeat, falling 81-79 to Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday. UC Davis has shown resilience, however, winning three of its last five contests. Forward Nils Cooper has been a key figure, averaging 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds over that stretch. He posted 13 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Bakersfield. Historically, games between these teams are tightly contested. Both squads boast similar records and are aiming to establish an early foothold in the Big West standings. The matchup features a compelling contrast: UC Santa Barbara will rely on Shaw’s backcourt scoring, while UC Davis will look to Cooper’s interior presence and a balanced attack that saw Isaiah Chappell (15 points) and Brayden Fagbemi (9 points, 8 assists) contribute significantly in their last outing. The game tips off at 7 p.m. PST on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. For UC Santa Barbara, it is the first of three straight home games. UC Davis continues a road swing at Cal Poly on Saturday.