SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — In a thrilling encounter on Saturday night, Ty Johnson spearheaded UC Davis to a narrow victory over UCSB, finishing with an outstanding 35 points in a 64-60 triumph.

Johnson demonstrated impressive shooting skills, converting 12 of 23 attempts from the field, which included 2 of 5 from beyond the arc, and was flawless at the free-throw line, sinking all nine attempts. His performance was pivotal for the Aggies, who improved to an overall record of 11-8, standing at 5-3 in the Big West Conference.

Supporting Johnson was Niko Rocak, who contributed 10 points while boasting an impressive shooting percentage of 5 for 6, in addition to gathering 10 rebounds and registering three blocks. Leo DeBruhl also played a notable role, finishing the game with eight points through 2 of 6 shooting from the field and a perfect 4 of 4 from the charity stripe.

On the flip side, Kenny Pohto was the standout for the Gauchos, scoring 17 points and collecting six rebounds. Colin Smith also had a solid performance with 14 points and a similar number of rebounds. Meanwhile, Stephan D. Swenson added to UCSB’s efforts with 10 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. This defeat brought an end to the Gauchos’ impressive five-game winning streak.

Looking ahead, both teams will return to action this Thursday. UC Davis is set to host Hawaii, while UCSB will go on the road to face UCSD.