There has been one constant in UC Davis men's basketball coach Jim Les' ever-changing starting lineup: Ryan Howley.
Although Les has gone with the same lineup for the past two games, he has used 10 different ones in the Aggies' 15 games, and Howley is the only player to start in all of them.
Howley, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound junior guard-forward, leads the team with 5.9 rebounds per game and gives the Aggies much-needed energy to start games.
"Every day in practice, he brings a solid work ethic, a defensive presence and an ability to rebound," Les said. "Coaches don't like the unknown, so Ryan has been rewarded with consistent starts because we know what we're going to get out of him night in and night out. We need to get that same preparation, response and work ethic out of a lot of other guys."
Howley played in 27 games last season but started none.
One of the Aggies' biggest problems this season has been falling behind early, so Les has experimented with different combinations of players.
Les started the season with Tyrell Corbin, Howley, Josh Ritchart, Ryan Sypkens and Alex Tiffin, but the Aggies went 1-3, and Sypkens was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Shuffling the lineup hasn't helped yet. The Aggies (1-14, 0-3 Big West Conference) have lost 11 straight and have three consecutive games away from the Pavilion.
"We're not working hard enough and competing hard enough at practice," Les said. "I've told the guys, 'It doesn't automatically show up on game night.' They've got to change their approach. Now we have to be the hardest-working team on the floor each night."
UC Davis has a daunting task Thursday at Long Beach State. The 49ers (10-6, 3-0) have won six of their last seven games.
Dynamic duo coming to town – When the Sacramento State men face Eastern Washington at the Hornets Nest on Thursday, they will have to worry about two of the top four scorers in the Big Sky Conference.
The Eagles' Collin Chiverton and Cliff Colimon rank third and fourth, respectively. They combine for nearly 32 points per game with Chiverton at 15.9 and Colimon at 15.7.
Chiverton is second in the Big Sky with 2.9 three-pointers made per game.
Colimon is one of the conference's best passers and defenders, averaging 5.3 assists and 2.1 steals.
The Hornets (5-9, 0-3 Big Sky) will try to stop a four-game losing streak, while the Eagles (8-8, 2-2) look to get over .500.
Nice homestand coming up – After playing six of their last seven games on the road, the UC Davis women are home for three straight beginning Thursday against Cal State Northridge.
The Aggies (9-6, 1-2 Big West) then play Long Beach State on Saturday and Pacific on Jan. 21.
As for Northridge (8-7, 3-0), UC Davis will have its hands full with center Jasmine Erving, who is averaging 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. She also has blocked 22 shots.
Kuhns' streak ends – Kylie Kuhns scored six points and had 10 rebounds Saturday, ending her streak of consecutive double doubles at 13 games, in the Sac State women's 68-58 loss at Northern Colorado.
The junior still leads the NCAA with 14 double doubles and is second in rebounding with 12.3 per game.
Sac State (7-9, 2-1 Big Sky) continues a three-game road stretch Thursday against Eastern Washington (9-8, 3-1).
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