SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — UC Santa Barbara Men's Basketball defeated Long Beach State 84-77 on Thursday at The Thunderdome. The game featured 15 ties and 17 lead changes. After The Beach tied the game to force overtime, the Gauchos pulled out the win to move to 1-0 in Big West play.
 
FROM HEAD COACH JOE PASTERNACK
"Our guys really battled to the end tonight," said Pasternack. "Every conference game is a war, and I am really proud of our guys' consistency, especially without Miro [Little] in the game for close to 35 minutes."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC Santa Barbara and Long Beach State opened with a tightly contested first half. UC Santa Barbara's Zion Sensley connected on multiple 3-pointers, contributing significantly to the Gauchos' scoring. Aidan Mahaney's steady shooting helped maintain a slight edge, while Marvin McGhee IV added a timely 3-pointer to bolster the lead. Mahaney also added a three at the end of the half as UCSB went to half up 31-30.
 
After falling behind shortly, UC Santa Barbara began the second half by regaining the lead through a series of key plays. Hosana Kitenge scored on a layup, followed by a Mahaney jumper, pushing the score to 35-32. Smith's three-pointer at 17:08 maintained the team's momentum, keeping them narrowly ahead.
 
As the half progressed, the teams exchanged leads multiple times. Down the stretch, the Gauchos' free throw shooting was crucial in tying the game at 57 and later extending the lead to 65-61 with a pair of successful free throws.
 
In the closing minutes, the home team faced pressure as the Beach tied the game at 67 with just 8 seconds remaining, after LBSU drained a three. Despite a last-second attempt, regulation ended in a 67-67 tie, setting the stage for a tense conclusion.
 
UC Santa Barbara began the third half by quickly extending their lead through efficient shooting and strong free-throw performance. Mahaney's jumper at 4:29 helped set the tone, and CJ Shaw added to the momentum with successful free throws after Long Beach State fouls. Smith's four-point play at 2:38 further strengthened the lead.
 
The Gauchos maintained their advantage by capitalizing on LBSU's fouls, with Evans Kipruto and Smith adding crucial points from the line. Despite a late push from Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara was too much for LBSU in overtime as the Gauchos pulled out an 84-77 win.
 
NOTABLES

• Aidan Mahaney's 26-point outing was the most points he has scored in a Gaucho uniform.
• Colin Smith and Aidan Mahaney combined to go 21-22 from the free throw line.
• Zion Sensley has made three or more three-pointers in back-to-back games. He is shooting 61.5 percent from three over the last two games.
• With his 14 points tonight, Sensley surpassed his point total from a season ago.
• The Gauchos now improve to 7-1 when they score 70 or more points in a game this season.

 
UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara will now turn their sights to Cal State Bakersfield as the Gauchos and Roadrunners will clash on Saturday, Dec. 6. The two teams will tip off at 6 p.m. For those unable to attend the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available.