Team #116 - UC Davis

On Saturday November 26th, 2022, I saw my 116th Division One College Basketball teams. On this occasion, I saw the UC Davis Aggies take on the Milwaukee Panthers. UC Davis is the 2nd team that I have seen out of the Big West. UC Davis has a 4-1 record on the year. They most recently played Sacramento State and they won by a score of 82-71. The leading scorer for UC Davis is Elijah Pepper and he is averaging 21 PPG.  Milwaukee has a 2-3 record on the year. They most recently played St. Thomas and they lost 76-72.  The leading scorer for the Panthers is BJ Freeman and he is averaging 12.2 PPG. 

I fully expected UC Davis to come out and dominate this one. However, I was sadly mistaken. Milwaukee played it’s best half against a Division One opponent all year. Everything was going right for them. UC Davis seemed frazzled from the tip. The bright spot for UC Davis was T.Y. Johnson, the former Loyola Chicago Rambler. He had 16 points on a perfect 6-6 shooting. The Panthers really had no answer for Johnson. However, it was a good collective team effort that gave Milwaukee the halftime lead. Four Panthers (BJ Freeman, Jalen Johnson, Elijah Jamison & Kentrell Pullian) had either eight or seven points in the first half. At the half, the score was 39-36. Both teams shot the ball well in the first half shooting over 50%. 

I'll admit it. I made a big mistake at this game. I left at halftime. Milwaukee won on a buzzer beatering three pointer from Justin Thomas. Never leave a game at halftime. Milwaukee won 87-85. Ty Johnson led UC Davis with 32 points and Kentrell Pullian led the Panthers with 20 points. 

My next game is Tuesday as Top 10 team Baylor comes to town to play Marquette.