Warrior Insider

Two of the Big West Conference’s most surprising teams of this season will meet on Thursday, when UC Davis hosts the University of Hawai’i.

The game is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. (Hawai’i time) at The Pavilion in Davis, Calif. It will not be televised, but streaming video will be available online at www.bigwest.tv.

The Warriors are 14-13 overall and tied for third place in the Big West at 8-6; the Aggies are 18-11 overall and a half-game out of first place at 10-4. Prior to the start of the season, Hawai’i was predicted to finish eighth in the Big West Preseason Poll, and UC Davis was picked fifth.

The Aggies have climbed to the top of the standings behind a veteran lineup that features four senior starters: guards Darius Graham, Brynton Lemar and Lawrence White, and forward J.T. Adenrele.

However, the Aggies’ key player is junior Chima Moneke, who is a leading candidate for Big West Player of the Year. The 6-foot-6 forward averages 15.0 points per game and leads the Big West in rebounding (9.1) and field goal percentage (.552). He had 26 points and 13 rebounds in the Aggies’ 76-70 victory at Hawai’i on January 21.

Lemar, a 6-4 wing, is also an all-conference candidate with 15.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He also ranks second in the Big West with 66 3-pointers, is shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point range, and scored 18 in the win at Hawai’i.

Graham, a 5-10 point guard, is averaging 8.0 points and 3.4 assists per game; the 6-4 White is averaging 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game; the 6-7 Adenrele is averaging 5.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Siler Schneider, a 6-3 sophomore, is averaging 11.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as the first guard off the bench. He also ranks second on the team with 46 3-pointers.

The Aggies need a win on Thursday to move into a tie for first place with UC Irvine. If that happens, a Saturday showdown between UC Davis and UC Irvine will be for the regular-season championship.

UC Davis is also looking to complete an undefeated home schedule for this season. The Aggies are 10-0 in The Pavilion this season, including 7-0 against Big West opponents. The last visiting team to beat UC Daivs in The Pavilion was Hawai’i on March 3, 2016.

What’s more, the Aggies will be celebrating “Senior Night” on Thursday.

Hawai’i is coming off its own Senior Night celebration – a 64-58 overtime victory over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.

Forward Noah Allen, the team’s only senior, leads the Warriors in scoring (15.4) and rebounding (5.8). He is averaging 18.7 points per game against Big West teams, including a 26-point, 9-rebound showing in the earlier loss to UC Davis.

Junior forward/center Gibson Johnson is averaging 11.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and is shooting 50.4 percent from the field. Sophomore forward Jack Purchase is averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and ranks fourth in the Big West with 66 3-pointers.

The backcourt rotation consists mainly of sophomore Sheriff Drammeh (9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds per game), sophomore Brocke Stepteau (6.6 points, 3.1 assists per game) and freshman Leland Green (6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds per game).

Freshmen Ido Flaisher, Zigmars Raimo and Matthew Owies are the primary reserves.

HAWAI’I (14-13, 8-6) AT UC DAVIS (18-11, 10-4)
When: Thursday, March 2, 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Hawai’i time)
Where: The Pavilion – Davis, Calif.
TV: None
Streaming video: www.bigwest.tv
Radio: ESPN1420 AM
Streaming audio: www.espn1420am.com
Live statistics: www.ucdavislivestats.com

Wednesday’s Result
at UC Irvine 68, UC Riverside 56

Thursday’s Games
CSUN at Cal Poly
UC Santa Barbara at Cal State Fullerton
Hawai’i at UC Davis, 5:00 p.m. (Hawai’i time)

Saturday’s Games
UC Davis at UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara at Cal Poly
Cal State Fullerton at CSUN
Hawai’i at Long Beach State, 3:00 p.m. (Hawai’i time)