SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – For the eighth consecutive time, the UC Santa Barbara men's basketball team defeated Hawai'i. The Gauchos toppled the conference front-runner with a hot start and stifling defense that ultimately led to a 77-62 win over the Rainbow Warriors.
 
FROM HEAD COACH JOE PASTERNACK
"I thought Friday and Saturday last week, after losing to Davis, we had unbelievable practices," said Pasternack. "Our guys really bought into defense, and I thought this week we got better at it during hard practices early in the week. We are far from perfect. I just talked with the team about how we don't understand how to play for 40 minutes. Hawai'i is a great team; they are the best team we have played all year. We had our best defensive outing in the first half, but then gave up 41 points in the second half."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos got off to a fast start as they opened the game on a 7-0 run; all three Gaucho baskets were scored by different players. UC Santa Barbara's defense, through the first four minutes, held Hawaii to 0-for-7 shooting and not allowing them to score until the 15:27 mark.
 
UH's first points came from the free throw line, making all three shots, but the Gauchos got it right back with an Aidan Mahaney three-pointer. Get it back with Aidan 3. Just about halfway through the quarter, the Gauchos were holding the Rainbow Warriors to 1-of-10 shooting, and because of that, the Gauchos swelled their lead to 19-5, forcing Hawai'i to take a timeout.
 
UC Santa Barbara held on to its double-digit lead the rest of the half, even extending it to 19 points. After UH cut the Gauchos' lead to 10, Colin Smith took over, scoring six consecutive points after a four-point play and then a layup on a baseline play. The Gauchos ended the half on a 7-0 run to finish the half up 40-21.
 
The second half opened up the exact opposite of the first with Hawai'i starting on 9-0 run. The Gauchos were able to stop the run by going on a 7-0 run of their own to increase the lead back up to 17.
 
Throughout the middle part of the half, the Rainbow Warriors started to chip away at the lead and cut the lead to seven at the 10-minute mark. A Miro Little three-pointer pushed the lead back to double digits and jolted an 8-0 to put the Blue and Gold up 15. From there, the Gauchos hung on to the lead and secured the Gauchos victory over conference-leading Hawai'i 77-62.
 
NOTABLES

• The Gauchos' 54.7 percent shooting percentage was the highest percentage Hawai'i has given up this season by six percent. Additionally, UC Santa Barbara's 38.9 percent shooting percentage from beyond the arc is the highest percentage the Rainbow Warriors have given up this season by seven percent.
• For the second time this season, Hosana Kitenge went a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor. He also did it against Portland on Dec. 22, 2025.
• For the third time this season, the Gauchos sent fans home with a free slice of pizza by winning the game and holding their opponent to less than 65 points. The Gauchos held UH to their second-lowest points scored on the season.
• With the win, the Gauchos have now won eight straight against Hawai'i and their ninth in a row at home against the Rainbow Warriors.

 
UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara will return home on Thursday to host Cal Poly in the first rendition of the Blue-Green Rivalry during the 2025-26 season. The Gauchos and Mustangs will tip off at 6 p.m. in The Thunderdome. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available.