Ritchart’s big game isn’t enough as UCD men fall

STOCKTON — Junior Josh Ritchart did all he could — recording a season-high 22 points as five of his six baskets came from beyond the arc — but the UC Davis men’s basketball team lost, 77-64, to Pacific on Saturday. Leading scorer Corey Hawkins missed his second consecutive game with an injury.

The Aggies (8-12, 4-5 Big West Conference) were within striking distance at halftime, trailing by just four but the Tigers (13-8, 7-2) pulled away in the second half to improve to 9-2 at the Alex G. Spanos Center.

“I thought our lack of depth (Saturday), coming down the stretch (was a factor),” said UCD head coach Jim Les. “This was a physical game and I thought some guys wore down as the game went on. I thought they battled and really worked hard, but give credit to Pacific. They’re playing pretty well and are a pretty tough out here.”

Junior guard Ryan Sypkens added 14 points and four rebounds for the Aggies, and sophomore forward J.T. Adenrele chipped in 12 and was one of two UCD players to finish with a game-high seven rebounds.

Of senior guard Ryan Howley’s seven rebounds, three were grabbed on the offensive end. Howley also scored seven points.

Pacific jumped out to an early 12-point lead, but UCD was able to whittle the advantage down to two with a 19-9 run.

Both teams traded baskets throughout a six-minute span in the latter moments of the first half and the Aggies even pulled to within one with just over a minute remaining before the break.

“I thought we guarded their actions for the most part really well,” Les said. “It was that last 10, 12, 13 seconds of the shot clock when they broke us down with some penetration, some drawn kicks. I thought they took it to the basket and got to the free-throw line a little bit more than we did.”

UCD will continue its three-game road trip at UC Santa Barbara on Thursday at 7 p.m.