The UC Davis Aggies staved off a furious second-half rally from the NC Central Eagles in the second night of the NCAA tournament First Four round Wednesday night, and after a 67-63 win in a thriller, Jim Les’ club will meet No. 1 seed Kansas in Tulsa.
NCAA tournament scores 2017: UC Davis survives NC Central in First Four round
UC Davis’ first ever Big Dance will last at least into the round of 64.
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The Aggies and Eagles played fast from the opening tip, combining for 17 points in the first four minutes. UC Davis harried NCC out on the perimeter, frazzling the Eagle guards and picking off a pass for a breakaway slam. Still, Dajuan Graf kept NC Central in it with a timely three, and into the under-16 timeout they went, 8-7 Aggies.
Despite stuttering out of the first media timeout, the Eagles fought their way back into the proceedings thanks to strong defense, offensive rebounding, and accurate shooting. Through the middle stretch of the period, NCC’s defense around the boundary flustered the Aggies into some sloppy offense, and just like that the Eagles were on top, 25-21.
Helped along further by their 1-3-1 zone, NCC continued to pester Davis all over the floor, forcing nine turnovers in the first half to the Eagles’ four. The closing minute of the opening frame turned a bit wild, with Arell Hennings and Dajuan Graf colliding near midcourt, which didn’t draw a whistle. After a Graf three to close out the first half, the Eagles owned a 34-31 advantage at recess.
Disorganization characterized the opening two minutes of the second period, with turnover after turnover stymieing any real offensive rhythm for either team. Somehow amidst that chaos UC Davis started the half on an 11-2 run, as NCC missed layup after layup after layup. Lawrence White heated up from range, Chima Moneke continued his bulldozer thing inside, and by the first media timeout the Aggies held the edge at 42-36.
The seesaw was fully by this point, which both teams growing cold, then hot in tandem, and with three minutes remaining, Davis’ lead had dwindled down to 60-58. The Aggies were thoroughly in foul trouble as well, with four players registering three fouls, including White.
Down 64-63, NCC coach LeVelle Moton called a timeout with 30 seconds remaining, but his Eagles couldn’t find the basket from range and had to revert to fouls and hope. That wasn’t to be, though, and UC Davis is off to Tulsa for a date with No. 1 Kansas.
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