DAVIS, Calif. --- Big West play began with a defensive tug-of-war ending in a 64-53 decision for the host UC Davis Aggies Thursday night at The Pavilion.

The teams jousted for a half with the 'Eaters (5-12, 0-1) jumping out to a 10-6 lead on threes from Max Hazzard and John Edgar Jr. before UC Davis (10-5, 1-0) turned it around with eight straight to take the lead building it as big as 29-22 with just 2:22 left in the half.

The 'Eaters grinded it out down the final stretch of the half closing it to a one-point margin, 31-30, on a floater from Eyassu Worku in the final seconds as he and Hazzard led the squad with eight points each.

UCI turned up the intensity to start the second half forcing a pair of early turnovers and snatching the lead right back at 34-32 holding onto the lead until the 11:22 mark. Chima Moneke put home a bucket in the lane and followed that with a big three-pointer putting UCD up for good starting a 21-6 run to grow the lead to its highest point of 15 at 61-46 as the Aggie defense salted the game away for the 64-53 victory.

Eyassu Worku worked his second straight game with 19 points, 11 in the second half, on 7-of-12 shooting while bringing down five rebounds. Hazzard joined him as the other Anteater in double digits with 10, and led the squad with four assists. Both players set new career highs in minutes with 37 and 31, respectively. Tommy Rutherford had another solid performance against UCD with 11 rebounds to go with six points.

A majority of the Aggie output came from three players led by 22 from TJ Shorts II on 8-of-9 shooting and 20 from Moneke adding 13 rebounds for his ninth double-double on the season.

UCI managed to hold the advantage in rebounds once again, 42-31, adding 10 offensive rebounds that all came in the second half. The 'Eaters were held out of the blocks column for the first time all year which snapped Jonathan Galloway's 15-game streak with at least one block.

The road doesn't get any easier, however it does return to the Bren Events Center with a matchup Saturday, Jan. 6 at 7:00 p.m. against Black and Blue Rivalry participant, Long Beach State.