Weber State flies past UC Davis to earn spot in Shootout semifinals

Weber State rode two hot 3-point shooters to a big first-half comeback and this year's largest first-round victory at the GCI Great Alaska Shootout.

The Wildcats overcame an 11-point deficit in the first half to crush the Aggies 86-58 Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Weber State senior guard Jeremy Senglin (20 points) and junior guard Dusty Baker (21) combined for nine 3-pointers on 14 attempts to lead the Wildcats to a 52-percent shooting percentage from 3-point land.

Senglin added five rebounds and five assists to earn the game's Mighty Moose honor, awarded by CBS Sports to the best player of each game in the Shootout.

UC Davis couldn't sustain a hot start and fell behind by double figures four minutes into the second half on a dunk by WSU's Zach Braxton that made it 44-34. Guards Joe Mooney (12 points) and Siler Schneider (11) led the Aggies.

UC Davis (4-2) built a 20-9 lead 10 minutes into the first half, but Weber State nearly doubled its score over the next 56 seconds.

Baker and Senglin started the run with back-to-back 3s, and Senglin added a layup that cut UC Davis' lead to three points.

Weber State (2-2) took its first lead several minutes later on another Senglin layup that made it 27-26 with just under five minutes remaining in the half, and the Wildcats never surrendered the lead.

Weber State is the defending Big Sky Conference champion, and the Wildcats are looking to improve on their third-place finishes in two previous Shootouts. Weber State finished third in the tournament in 2010 and 1993.

Guard John Cody (12 points) and forward Kyndahl Hill (10 points, 7 rebounds), joined Baker and Senglin in double figures for the Wildcats.

Forward Chima Moneke tallied a near double-double with eight points and eight rebounds for UC Davis.

The Shootout continues with four games Friday at the Alaska Airlines Center.

UAA and Oakland tip off at noon followed by Drake and UC Davis at 2 p.m.

Buffalo plays Nevada in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m. and Weber State faces Iona at 8 p.m. to close the day.