Schedule
Game No. 24
Tuesday, Mar. 1 at 7:00 PM
UC Santa Barbara (14-10, 6-5) vs CSUN (7-20, 3-11)
at The Thunderdome – Santa Barbara, Calif.
ESPN+ | Live Stats| Audio

Game No. 25
Thursday, Mar. 3 at 7:00 PM – WHITEOUT Game
UC Santa Barbara (14-10, 6-5) vs Hawai'i (15-9, 9-4)
at The Thunderdome – Santa Barbara, Calif.
ESPN+ | Live Stats  

Spectator Policy.
Tickets for this week's games are on sale and available at our online ticket office.

Students who want to reserve their tickets must do so 48 hours in advance in the Gaucho Gameday App or on the following AXS.

See vaccination and testing requirements for pre-entry at all indoor events HERE. Spectators must wear a face covering at all times. No food or beverages will be allowed in the facility and concessions will not be available.

Gaucho Gameday App
Install the new UCSB Gaucho Gameday app on your smartphone for exclusive UCSB coverage all season long. Our new app gives you a one stop shop where you can secure tickets and parking as well. Now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Gauchos on the Air
Both games will be aired lived on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Max Kelton and Gaucho legend Jerry Pimm on the call for UCSB. Additionally, an audio only cast featuring Kevin Cannon and former NBA coach Jim Eyen can be found on UCSBGauchos.com. Live stats are also available there.

Closing it Out
UCSB currently rides a three-game win streak, getting hot at the perfect time as the regular season comes to a close. These final two games will play a huge part in determining what seed the Gauchos receive at the Big West tournament next week in Henderson, Nevada at the tourney's new home - The Dollar Loan Center. UCSB currently sits 6th in the standings with a 6-5 record and is neck and neck with UC Davis which holds a 5-4 record. 

WHITEOUT on Senior Night
Thursday's game with Hawai'i marks the team's WHITEOUT game where the Gauchos want you to join them in wearing white as we pack the Thunderdome for the final time this season! Before the game, there will be a special ceremony honoring the team's six seniors: Jay Nagle, Sekou Toure, Robinson Idehen, Miles Norris, Amadou Sow, and manager Zhupou He.

Best in the (Big) West
UCSB ranks atop the Big West Conference in several statistical categories this season

Assist-to-Turnover Ratio – 1.17

Assists Per Game – 15.8 apg (34^th in NCAA DI)

Field Goal Percentage – 49.2% (4th in NCAA DI)

Scoring Margin – 8.5 ppg (55^th in NCAA DI)

Total Assists – 379

The Gauchos also rank top three in defensive field goal percentage, total blocks, blocks per game, rebound margin, scoring defense, and three-point defense.

Mitchell Breaks Freshman Scoring Record
Freshman Ajay Mitchell was once again the answer this past week breaking the program's freshman scoring record with 31 points and topping his career-high for the for the third time this month. Mitchell's record-breaking night came on 10-of-15 shooting with 9-of-12 free-throws made and a handful of big time plays. He played 40+ minutes and added four rebounds, three assists, and a block. The previous record of 29 points was held by Michael Bryson who did so in the Big West Tournament. This is just the third time in school history that the Gauchos have had two 30-point games by different players thanks to the 31-point by game by Miles Norris earlier this year. The other two came in 2010 with Orlando Johnson and James Nunnally and in 1987 with Scott Fisher and Conner Henry.

He followed that up with another 30-point game leading the Gauchos to a double-overtime win at UC Riverside. He is the first Gaucho to have back-to-back 30-point games since Orlando Johnson.

Milestone Watch
Head Coach Joe Pasternack reached the milestone of 150 wins in his career after defeating CSUN on the road on January 25^th. This past Saturday he became the 6^th coach in Gaucho history to pick up his 100^th win with the program in a convincing 84-71 win over top-seeded Long Beach State.

1500-800 Club
In the Gauchos' win over Long Beach State, senior Amadou Sow reached two milestone surpassing 1,500 points and 800 rebounds for his career. He is just the third Gauchos in school history to reach those marks joining Alan Williams and Eric McArthur. He now boasts 1,554 career points (9^th all-time) and 824 rebounds (4^th all-time).

Rejected by Robinson
Veteran center Robinson Idehen, often referred to as the 'soul of the team' by Pasternack, has proved to be one of the top shot blockers in the conference ranking third with 1.00 blocks per game. His career-high five blocks against Chicago State are tied for the best performance by any Big West player this season and his 78 career blocks ranks tied for 9^th all-time in program history.

On the offensive end, Idehen is on track to be the most efficient scorer in Gaucho history currently boasting a 67% field goal percentage for his career.

Sow Leads the Way
Senior center Amadou Sow is currently ranked top-10 in the Big West in several categories:

Field Goal Percentage – 54.5 % (1^st – 40^th in NCAA DI)
Rebounds Per Game – 8.3 (1^st)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game – 2.96 (2^nd – 42^nd in NCAA DI)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game – 5.33 (3^rd)
Points Per Game – 15.5 (5^th)
Double-Doubles – 4 (4^th)
Blocked Shots Per Game – 0.83 (8^th)
Free-Throw Percentage – 78.5% (7^th)

Freshman on Fire
Freshman guard Ajay Mitchell has emerged as one of the top guards in the Big West Conference and the country through the first year of his young career. He currently leads the conference and is 47^th in the country with a 2.27 assist-to-turnover ratio. He is also second in assists per game with 4.0. Mitchell set an early career-high in the team's win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff dropping 10 dimes and committing zero turnovers, and followed that up with an eight assist-one turnover performance against Cal Lutheran. His 10-assist performance is the best by any Big West player this season.

SWishart
Junior guard Calvin Wishart had a remarkable first half performance off the bench in the team's victory over Pepperdine that ultimately helped the Gauchos keep pace with the Waves going into the locker room. Wishart scored a career-high 23 points, all in the first period, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, 4-for-4 from three, and 9-for-9 from the free throw line. He took and missed just one shot in the second half and totaled two rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the game.

Cerebro Sports Cali Jam All-Tournament Team
UCSB's games with Chicago State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff were a part of the Cerebro Sports Cali Jam tournament and at the contest's conclusion two Gauchos were named to the All-Tournament Team. Amadu Sow, who averaged 16.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and shot 77.8% from the field in the two games was named the Tournament MVP. Freshman Ajay Mitchell, who averaged 8.5 ppg and 7.0 apg while also leading the team in minutes, was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Dome Sweet Dome
The Gauchos win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff marked the 20^th straight home win for the Gauchos, who were perfect in the Thunderdome from January 25, 2020 to November 24^th 2021. It is the longest streak in UCSB history.

History Made
UCSB's 119-65 win over San Francisco State on opening night broke several top-ten marks in the Gaucho record book:

- 29 assists, 3^rd most in program history
- 119 points, 4^th most in program history
- 65 rebounds, T-5^th most in program history
- 60 first half points, T-7^th most in program history
- 59 second half points, T-8^th most in program history
- 32 free throws made, T-10^th most in program history

Run it Back
The reigning Big West champions return to the court with a new goal this season and it's becoming the first Big West team to repeat since the Gauchos did 10 years ago and get back to the NCAA Tournament.

Last season, UCSB went 22-5 overall and 13-3 in Big West Conference play on its way to a Big West regular season title, a Big West Tournament Championship, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. In addition to Norris and Sow, their key returners include Big West Sixth Man of the Year Ajare Sanni, senior forward Robinson Idehen, and junior guard Calvin Wishart, who will be making his Gaucho debut after redshirting last season.

Sow Named to Lou Henson Watch List
Just one day after being named to the Big West Preseason All-Conference Team, senior center Amadou Sow earned another preseason nod being named to the 2021-22 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award watch list. The award is presented to the best mid-major men's basketball player of the year. He is one of just two Big West players to be named joining UC Irvine's Collin Welp.

UCSB Picked to Repeat in Preseason Polls
UCSB was picked as the unanimous regular season champion of the Big West in the annual preseason coaches' and media polls. The Gauchos accumulated 69 points and five first place votes in the coaches' poll beating out second-seeded UC Irvine by a narrow margin of just one point and one first place vote. The two teams spilt the nine first place nods.

In the media poll the Gauchos garnered 103 points and six first place votes to the Anteater's 100 points and two first place votes. Rounding out the top-four in both polls are UC Riverside and UC Davis finishing third and fourth, respectively.

Sow and Norris named to Preseason All-Conference Team
Along with the preseason polls came two different Preseason All-Conference teams. Senior center Amadou Sow picked up his third straight preseason nod as a unanimous preseason pick on both the coaches' and media poll. The Gaucho big averaged 13.0 points per game and 7.5 rebounds while shooting a potent 56.9% from the field last season.

Senior Forward Miles Norris was named to preseason team on the coaches' poll after exploding on to the scene in his first season with UCSB proving to be one of the most exciting players in conference. The 6-10 forward brought length, excellent shooting, and electric dunks to the Thunderdome on his way to averaging 9.6 points per game and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 39.4% from three and 49.2% from the field. He also led the team with 22 blocks.

Coming in at No. 14
College Insider's preseason Men's Mid Major Top 25 list named the Gauchos as the 14^th best mid major program in DI basketball. They were the only Big West team in the rankings and were the fourth highest ranked west coast team in the first edition of the poll.