SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The UC Santa Barbara men's basketball team returns to The Thunderdome for its final regular season game, celebrating Senior Night on Saturday, March 7. The Gauchos sit in fifth place in the Big West with an 11-8 conference record and 18-12 overall.
PROMOTIONS
Fans can pick up an exclusive senior day shirt before the game as well as free Woodstocks pizza at the pre-game taligate starting at 5 p.m. outside The Thunderdome.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Gauchos split the pair of games, earning a 70-59 home victory over UC Riverside before falling late on the road at UC Irvine.
UC Santa Barbara controlled much of the matchup against UC Riverside, building a 39–27 halftime lead to later secure the win. The Gauchos finished with 39 total rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, while holding the Highlanders to under 40 percent shooting.
UC Santa Barbara then traveled to UC Irvine, where the Gauchos battled back from a nine-point halftime deficit before falling 64–60 in a closely contested game. The Gauchos scored 37 points in the second half and made 11 three-pointers, briefly taking the lead before the Anteaters pulled ahead late.
SCOUTING THE TRITONS
UC San Diego sits one spot ahead of UC Santa Barbara in the Big West standings. The Tritons are tied for third place in the conference at 11-7, one game ahead of the Gauchos. UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara have met once this season, with the Gauchos earning a 62-48 win on Jan. 29. Since that matchup, the Tritons have gone 6-2.
The Tritons enter Saturday's game on a five-game winning streak, most recently defeating Cal Poly at home. During this stretch, UC San Diego is averaging 75.0 points per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field.
UC San Diego has been one of the more balanced teams in the Big West this season, with five players averaging double figures in scoring. Leo Beath leads the team at 12.6 points per game, while multiple contributors have helped spread the scoring load throughout the lineup.
The Tritons rely heavily on perimeter shooting, led by Alex Chaikin, who leads the Big West in three-point percentage at 42.4 percent. UC San Diego ranks among the top teams in the conference in three-point production and consistently stretches defenses with its outside shooting.
Defensively, UC San Diego ranks third in the Big West, allowing 70.1 points per game. The Tritons also average 37.4 rebounds per game, helping them control possessions and limit opponents' second-chance opportunities.
Both UCSB and UCSD are near the top half of the Big West standings and could impact conference tournament positioning as the regular season comes to an end.
FOLLOW ALONG
Saturday's game will tip off at 6 p.m. at the Thunderdome and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available.
