DAVIS, Calif. (KTXL) – The UC Davis men’s basketball team was still in California on Wednesday morning, holding one final practice on its home court before heading to Henderson, Nevada and the Big West Tournament.
The Aggies are the No. 2 seed, and they will play in the tournament semifinals on Friday night at 8:30pm PT.
“I’m just really thankful to be in this position,” said senior Elijah Pepper, the school’s all-time leading scorer, who was named the Big West Conference Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Pepper is averaging 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season.
“Elijah’s just been a special talent, a special player,” said UC Davis head coach Jim Les. “It’s about how he carries himself off the floor, he’s a hard worker…on the floor he is just so talented and it’s just been fun to watch him get better every year.”
UC Davis (19-12) enters the Big West Tournament on a three-game winning streak. In those three games, Elijah Pepper has scored 30 points (vs Hawai’i), 28 points (at UC San Diego) and 17 points (at Long Beach State).
“The best recognition is respect from your peers,” said Les. “I’m not allowed to vote for my own guy so when the other coaches step up and say he’s the best player in the league, that’s pretty high praise.”
