Shorts takes over late to send UC Davis past Lamar 77-68
LAS VEGAS -- TJ Shorts II knocked down all 13 of his free throws and scored a career-high 25 to power UC Davis to a 77-68 victory over Lamar in a first-round game at the Las Vegas Classic on Friday.
Shorts took over in the final 5:32, scoring 13 of the final 20 points for the Aggies (8-4). Siler Schneider added 11 points, A.J. John scored 10 and UC Davis turned 17 Lamar turnovers into 30 points. The Aggies snapped a two-game skid, while Lamar dropped its third straight.
James Harrison matched his career high with 17 points off the bench for the Cardinals (8-4), while reserve Nick Garth hit three 3-pointers and scored 14. Colton Weisbrod added 12 points, while Josh Nzeakor scored 10 with both players snagging seven rebounds in the first meeting between the schools.
Lamar led 32-29 after Nzeakor's layup 27 seconds into the second half, but Garrison Goode hit a pair of baskets in a 9-2 run and the Aggies grabbed a 38-34 lead. After Nzeakor's tip-in knotted the score at 38, Shorts hit two free throws, Joe Mooney nailed a 3-pointer, Schneider hit a jumper and John had a 3 and a dunk and UC Davis led 50-40 and cruised from there.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Ian Davis
- Riel Banaria
- Tony Thomas
2023-24 Southland Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
McNeese | 17-1 | - | 30-4 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 14-4 | 3 | 21-12 |
Nicholls | 13-5 | 4 | 20-14 |
Lamar | 12-6 | 5 | 19-14 |
SE Louisiana | 10-8 | 7 | 15-17 |
Northwestern State | 7-11 | 10 | 9-23 |
Texas A&M-Commerce | 6-12 | 11 | 13-20 |
New Orleans | 4-14 | 13 | 10-23 |
Houston Christian | 4-14 | 13 | 6-23 |
Incarnate Word | 3-15 | 14 | 8-23 |
2023-24 Big West Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
UC Irvine | 17-3 | - | 24-10 |
UC San Diego | 15-5 | 2 | 21-12 |
UC Davis | 14-6 | 3 | 20-13 |
Hawai'i | 11-9 | 6 | 20-14 |
Long Beach State | 10-10 | 7 | 21-15 |
UC Riverside | 10-10 | 7 | 16-18 |
Cal State Northridge | 9-11 | 8 | 19-15 |
UC Santa Barbara | 9-11 | 8 | 16-15 |
Cal State Bakersfield | 8-12 | 9 | 13-19 |
Cal State Fullerton | 7-13 | 10 | 14-18 |
Cal Poly | 0-20 | 17 | 4-28 |