UC Davis downs UC Irvine 64-53 in Big West opener

Jan 5, 2018, 05:28 am

DAVIS, Calif. -- TJ Shorts II scored 22 points and Chima Moneke added 20 with 13 rebounds and UC Davis pulled away from UC Irvine for a 64-53 win in a Big West Conference opener Thursday night.

Moneke tied the game at 40-all with a layup, and that started UC Davis on a 16-3 run that lasted almost six minutes. Moneke added a 3, a jumper and a free throw during that span. UC Davis (10-5) led 31-30 at halftime. Siler Schneider scored 10 for the Aggies.

UC Irvine (5-12) shot 7 of 30 (23 percent) in the second half and finished 4 of 17 from beyond the 3-point arc. John Edgar's 3-pointer with 74 seconds remaining was the Anteaters' lone field goal in the last five minutes.

Eyassu Worku led the Anteaters with 19 points, on 7-of-12 shooting, and Max Hazzard scored 10. UC Irvine outrebounded UC Davis 42-31 but committed 22 turnovers that led to 19 Aggies points.