SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The UC Santa Barbara men's basketball team hits the road to take on UC San Diego before returning home to host Cal State Fullerton. The Gauchos currently stand one game ahead of the Tritions and one and a half games ahead of the Titans in The Big West standings.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Gauchos played rival Cal Poly and Long Beach State in crucial Big West matchups coming away victorious in both. The Gauchos scored 107 points in the win at home against the Mustangs thanks to a hot first half shooting of 82 perfect from the field and 77 from three. Miro Little and Zion Sensley led the offensive attack with Little's career high 11 assists and Sensley's 22 points. The Gauchos then traveled south to face Long Beach State where they took a commanding first half lead due to great shooting from beyond the arc at a 58 percent clip, but the Beach came roaring back turning into a one possession game. Aidan Mahaney and CJ Shaw played pivotal roles in keeping the lead late in the game with baskets and free throws to help push the Gauchos to 2-0 on the week.
SCOUTING THE TRITONS
The Tritons come into this game sitting 15-6 and 5-4 in conference, setting the stage for control of third place in the Big West. This is the first matchup of the season between the two teams before they end the season together in Santa Barbara.
Offensively, the Tritons average 80 points per game with four players in averaging double figures. Leading the way is junior forward Leo Beath averaging 15 points per game. Tom Beattie, Bol Dengdit, and Alex Chaikin all are averaging double figures with 10 points a piece each helping propel the Tritons to their 15-6 record.
Clint Allard, the first year head coach of the Tritons, looks to continue UCSD's recent success after helping the 2024-25 team make the Tritons first NCAA tournament appearance last season in their first year of eligibility as a Division I institution. Last season the Tritons finished with a 30-5 record. Allard was promoted to head coach this past summer after serving as the associate head coach for the previous 11 seasons.
SCOUTING THE TITANS
The Titans currently sit at 10-12 and 5-5 in conference, ranking in sixth in the Big West. The Titans have shown vulnerability on the road with a 3-7 record as they head to Santa Barbara on Saturday to face the Gauchos. The Titans currently have a 1-0 lead over the Gauchos in the season series as they beat them at home 95-84 to start the New Year.
Offensively, the Titans are sound with five players averaging double figures. Senior and the reigning Big West Player of the Week, Josh Ward leads the Titans averaging 15 points and three assists. Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro, Landon Seaman, Bryce Cofield, and Christian Williams are the other Titans that are averaging double figures helping the team score on average an 85 points per game.
Dedrique Taylor, coach of the Titans, is coming off his worst season as a head coach where he led the Titans to a 6-26 record and 1-19 in conference play. Taylor has turned it around this year as they have nearly doubled their win total and looks to continue to make strides to reaching The Big West Championships where he has led his Titans before. Taylor with his 171 wins at Fullerton marks the most in program history and in his 13th year as head coach looks to make his third NCAA postseason.
FOLLOW ALONG
UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego will tip off at 7 p.m. inside LionTree Arena on Thursday, Jan. 29. UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton will tip off at 6 p.m. inside The Thunderdome on Saturday, Jan. 31. Both games can be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available for those unable to attend in person.
