Recap: UC Santa Barbara vs. UC Davis

Santa Barbara, CA (Sports Network) - After missing two games due to injury, Corey Hawkins returned to lead the way with 20 points and nine rebounds as the UC Davis Aggies defeated the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, 64-56, in a Big West Conference battle at The Thunderdome.

Ryan Sypkens added 15 points for UC Davis (9-12, 5-5 Big West) as it picked up its second win in three games. J.T. Adenrele also got into the mix with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor.

Alan Williams registered a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds to pace UCSB (7-15, 3-8), while Kyle Boswell and Michael Bryson scored 14 and 13 points, respectively.

The Gauchos got off to a slow start to shoot just 25.9 percent from the floor with as many makes as turnovers in the first half. UC Davis took control by pouring in 52.5 percent of its field goal attempts, including 5-of-10 from 3- point range, and went into the intermission on top, 34-22. Hawkins wasted no time making his presence known, as he tallied 11 points in the first frame.

UCSB heated up to connect on 41.7 percent of its attempts from the field after the break, but the Aggies held off the hosts by converting 8-of-14 at the charity stripe in the second stanza. UC Davis held a double-digit advantage on the scoreboard until the 1:43 mark of the period.

Despite the loss, the Gauchos held a sizeable, 24-10 edge in points in the paint. UC Davis overcame its interior deficit by limiting UCSB to 5-of-27 shooting from beyond the arc.