Uc Riverside Falls at Thunderdome as UCSB Holds Off Late Charge, 70-59
uc riverside visited the Thunderdome on Thursday night and lost 70-59 to UC Santa Barbara, a win that snapped the Gauchos’ three-game losing streak and strengthened their standing in the Big West Conference race.
Gauchos built early cushion and controlled the boards
UCSB took command early, building a 12-point lead in the first half and carrying a 39-27 advantage into the break. Aidan Mahaney finished with a game-high 21 points while Zion Sensley contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the Gauchos outrebounded the Highlanders 39-29 overall. UCSB also held uc riverside to under 40 percent shooting from the field, turning stops and rebounds into second-chance looks and steadying the home team through a tense second half.
Uc Riverside narrows gap to four late, Gauchos finish strong
The Highlanders cut the deficit to 61-57 with 2: 39 remaining, but UCSB answered with a 9-2 run to close out the game. Colin Smith converted key free throws in the closing stretch, and Sensley knocked down clutch free throws late to seal the 11-point victory. A defensive block by Hosana Kitenge on the opening possession and timely assists from Aidan Mahaney helped set the tone for the Gauchos’ finish.
Defense, rebounding and a Legend of the Dome ceremony
UCSB leaned on contested shots and physical rebounding all night. The Gauchos limited put-backs that had hurt them in recent overtime losses, and their emphasis on boxing out showed up across the stat sheet. Before the second half, Orlando Johnson was honored in a Legend of the Dome pregame ceremony and the team unveiled a banner on the Thunderdome wall, an event that coincided with the Gauchos rallying back from earlier miscues to protect their lead.
Other contributors included CJ Shaw with a critical defensive rebound in the closing seconds of the first half, and Evans Kipruto with steals and rebound plays that helped steady UCSB when uc riverside applied pressure after the break.
With the regular season winding down, UC Santa Barbara now turns to a road matchup at UC Irvine on Saturday, Feb. 28. Tipoff is scheduled for 7: 30 p. m., and the game is set to air on ESPN2.
