SACRAMENTO -- UC Davis outscored the Hornets, 49-31, in the second half en route to an 82-71 victory over Sacramento State in the basketball version of the Causeway Classic on Tuesday evening at Golden1 Center.
The Hornets led the entire first half and entered the break with a seven-point lead after shooting 7-for-10 from the 3-point line. Four different Sacramento State players hit 3-balls in the first half, and the Hornets led by as many as 12 points.
However, it was a much different story after halftime as UC Davis scored 49 points in the second half while shooting 57% (17-30) from the field, and 63% (5-8) from the 3-point line. The Aggies, who led for just under eight minutes of the entire contest, and the Hornets were tied at 64-64 with just under five minutes to play. UC Davis would then go on an 18-7 run over the final 4:49 to put things away.
Both teams finished the game shooting 48% from the floor, but the Aggies converted on six more field goals. In addition, UC Davis (4-1) outrebounded the Hornets, 37-29, and held a 15-5 advantage in second chance points. It marked the first time this season Sacramento State (3-2) has been outrebounded. The Hornets shot 53% (9-17) from distance, but hit just two 3-pointers in the second half. The Hornets also turned the ball over 19 times (to the Aggies' 10), resulting in 21 points off miscues for UC Davis.
Sacramento State had its three-game winning streak against UC Davis snapped, as the two rivals were playing at the Golden1 Center for the sixth straight time. Tonight marked the 120th meeting in the series between the two programs, and Sacramento State holds a 69-51 record since the teams' first matchup in 1948.
Zach Chappell led the Hornets with 19 points on 5-for-11 shooting, and 7-of-11 from the free throw line. Fifteen of those points came in the second half. Shooting guard
Austin Patterson was impressive all evening, scoring a season-high 18 points on 5-for-6 from distance go with four rebounds in a game-high 38 minutes.
Rounding out the Hornets in double figures was forward
Akol Mawein's 13 points and five rebounds. However, Mawein fouled out with 5:26 to play which coincided with the Aggies' game-clinching run. In fact, Mawein was a massive +15 in his 19 minutes on the floor. Every other Hornet was a negative in plus/minus.
Center
Callum McRae posted his third game with double-figure rebounds as he finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and a pair of steals.
Cameron Wilbon had seven points and three assists off the bench, and
Gianni Hunt posted five points, five assists and two steals.
UC Davis was led by Elijah Pepper's 24 points, which included 18 in the second half. Of the Aggies' 37 rebounds, 10 came on the offensive glass.
Sacramento State will next travel to Laie, Hawaii for the North Shore Classic which takes place on Friday and Saturday. The Hornets open the two-day tournament on Friday against Hawai'i at 5:30 p.m. PST. They conclude the tourney on Saturday against either Southern Utah or Texas State at 6:30 p.m. PST.
