DAVIS, Calif. – Ty Johnson knocked down a three-pointer with 6.8 seconds remaining to lift UC Davis over UC Irvine, 54-52, at the University Credit Union Center.

In a battle of the top of the Big West standings, the closely contested game saw 12 lead changes and was tied five times. UC Irvine records its first Big West loss (6-1) and goes to 13-6 overall, while UC Davis goes to 12-7 on the year and 7-1 in league games.

Guard Andre Henry led the Anteaters once again with 12 points, hitting 4-11 from the floor and 4-5 from the stripe.

Post player Dean Keeler recorded 11 points on 3-6 from the field and 5-6 from the line with a team-best eight rebounds and two blocks. He had a big second half, scoring seven points, four rebounds and a block in 13 minutes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Guard Pierre Crockrell II had a career-high five steals to go with seven assists and four points
>Guard Justin Hohn added six points and two steals, while forward Devin Tillis posted five points and four rebounds
>Freshman Carter Welling was perfect from the floor (2-2) and 1-2 from the line for five points
>Both teams struggled from long distance with UCI hitting just 2-14 (14.3%). The Aggies were 5-15 (33.3%). The teams also gave up points from the line with UCI making 10-16 free throws (62.5%) and UC Davis 13-21 (61.9%)
>UCD's Johnson led all players with 19 points followed by Elijah Pepper with 14 points. Niko Rocak had six blocked shots
>The Aggies out-rebounded UCI 45-38

FIRST HALF
>A Bent Leuchten layup (17:14) was followed by Pierre Crockrell II stopping and dishing to Andre Henry for a jumper just outside the paint (16:16) and a Justin Hohn layup down the lane while being fouled (15:20) to get UCI out to a 12-8 advantage  
>The Anteater defense was stout, allowing UCD just three free throws over a span of seven minutes until the Aggie defense answered and the offense scored 10 in a row to put Davis in front 21-14 at 5:09
>UC Irvine would shoot 1-16 from the floor over six minutes until a Hohn jumper at 4:53, 16-21
>Dylan Thoerner knocked down a three-pointer to close within 19-22 (3:14)
>After a lengthy clock delay, Anteater defense jumped in front of a pass that led to a Langston Redfield layup to get UCI within one 21-22 at 2:28
>The teams would trade points until Ty Johnson knocked down a three-pointer (0:36) for UC Davis and Dean Keeler had a rebound put-back as time expired to have UCI trail 25-27 at the half

SECOND HALF
>The Aggies would out-score UCI 6-1 to start the half, but after a technical on the UC Davis headman, the Anteaters had a jumper by Henry (17:33), jumper by Crockrell II (16:47) and a layup by Tillis (16:00) to keep it close, 32-33
>Henry and Keeler stepped to the line and drained two free throws each to move UCI back in front, 38-37 at 13:07
>A basket and two free throws put UC Davis right back in the lead, 41-38 (11:33)
>Derin Saran would follow the play and put-back a basket to knot the score at 46 all (7:36) then a free throw by Keeler put UCI up again 47-46 at 7:09
>After a free throw by Carter Welling, UC Davis answered with a three-pointer by Milling and a free throw by Elijah Pepper, 50-48 (3:27)
>Keeler stopped a four minute field goal draught by the Anteaters, 50-50 (3:09)
>A free throw by UC Davis at 2:55 would be the only score until Hohn would steal the ball on the Aggie end and Crockrell II would pull-up and knock it in off glass with 17 seconds left giving the Anteaters a 52-51 lead
>On the next possession, Johnson hit a deep three with 6.8 left, 54-52
>UCI brought the ball across half court and called timeout. A three out of the break would miss giving the Aggies the victory

NOTES
>It is the 17^th time in the series that the game has been decided by three points or less
>The Anteaters' 24 first half points are the fourth fewest after 20 minutes this season
>It is the Anteaters' first loss since falling to New Mexico on December 20, 2023
>Crockrell II is the second Anteater to record five steals this season, the first since Andre Henry did in in Nov. 2023 which had not be done since Evan Leonard did it in 2018
>Crockrell II is now nine assists away from catching Patrick Rembert (2007-11) to become top-10 in program history for career assists

UP NEXT
UCI will have a short trip up the 405 freeway Thursday (Jan. 25) when they meet Black & Blue rival Long Beach State at 7:00 p.m. from the Walter Pyramid.