Sports

It’s going to take more than one tough loss to shake the confidence of the UC Davis men’s basketball team. The Aggies won their third straight Big West Conference game on Thursday,and nearly captured their fourth straight on Saturday before a large lead was erased down the stretch by Cal Poly. For UC Davis,the loss was a heartbreaker,not a deal breaker.

The UC Davis men’s and women’s swimming teams traveled for their third straight weekend dual, this time heading to Stockton to take on Big West Conference rival Pacific. The men had a dominant showing once again, as they achieved a 145-point total and then swam exhibition against the Tigers en route to a comfortable 37-point win. Meanwhile, the women suffered a heartbreaking two-point loss, 132-130.

The fact of the matter is simple for the Aggies: They will go the remainder of the season with a very short bench, as three players have gone down with season-ending injuries. That won’t keep the Aggies (7-11, 3-4) from giving it all they have.

After the Aggies swept the Stanford duals two weeks ago,UC Davis was on the rise with a2-1Pacific-10record and a6-2overall record. Since then,the Aggies have been plagued by injuries.

Teams:UC Davis vs.Air Force Where:The Pavilion – Davis,Calif. When:Today at7p.m. Who to watch:Though the individual routines may change from year to year,a gymnast will not typically add a whole new event in the last year of competition.

It takes a special type of athlete to compete on all four of gymnastics‘ apparatuses – vault,balance beam,uneven bars and floor – in one night.And it takes an exceptional athlete to do them all well. TanyaHo is one such athlete.

Teams:UC Davis at Pacific Where:ChrisKyeldson Pool – Stockton,Calif. When:Saturday at noon Who to Watch:San Leandro,Calif.native Lisa Bender is shredding up the100-and200-yard breaststroke this season.The sophomore captured a solid second place showing last weekend at UC Santa Barbara,as well as a new lifetime best in the100.

Teams:UC Davis at Cal Poly Records:Aggies,7-9 (3-2); Mustangs,9-7 (2-3) Where:Mott Gym – San Luis Obispo,Calif. When:Tomorrow at4p.m. Who to watch:After scoring seven combined points in her three starts prior to UC Davis‘ matchup with UC Irvine,freshman Samantha Meggison shot her way back into double digits Saturday,scoring10points against the Anteaters in25minutes of play.

Teams:UC Davis at Cal State Bakersfield; San Francisco State Where:Icardo Center – Bakersfield,Calif.; Main Gymnasium – San Francisco,Calif. When:Today at6p.m.; Saturday at7p.m. Who to watch:Senior Marcos Orozco went3-0at the Stanford Duals and has caught national attention in the125-pound weight class.

Teams: UC Davis vs. Cal Poly Records: Aggies, X-X (X-X); Mustangs, 3-13 (0-6) Where: The Pavilion When: Saturday at 7 p.m. Radio: KHTK (1090-AM) Who to watch: This time last year, Michael Boone was about to have the finest game of his career.

Teams:UC Davis vs.UC Santa Barbara Records:Aggies,8-10 (3-2); Gauchos,8-9 (2-3) Where:The Pavilion When:Today at7p.m.

Teams:UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara Records:Aggies,7-9 (3-2); Gauchos,10-6 (5-0) Where:The Thunderdome – Santa Barbara,Calif. When:Today at7p.m.