The UC Santa Barbara Men's Basketball team concluded their regular season with a 64-81 loss to the UC Riverside Highlanders. The Highlanders dominated from the start, maintaining a strong lead throughout the game, with Riverside shooting at 53 percent in the first half. Despite efforts by the Gauchos to stage a comeback, they could not close the gap, ultimately falling short in their final regular season match.

By the Numbers
  • Josh Pierre-Louis led the Gauchos with 17 points, shooting at 60 percent from the field.
  • Yohan Traore contributed 16 points on six of nine shooting, along with one assist.
  • Cole Anderson added 11 points, shooting 60 percent from three-point range.
State of Play
  • UC Santa Barbara was out-rebounded 39 to 24, with a defensive lapse allowing Riverside to secure a significant advantage in the first half.
  • The Gauchos, seeded sixth, will face the CSUN Matadors in the upcoming Big West Championships in Henderson, Nevada.
What's Next

The Gauchos will play the No. 7 CSUN Matadors in the first round of The Big West Championships at the Dollar Loan Center on Wednesday, March 13 at 8:30 p.m.

Bottom Line

The UC Santa Barbara Men's Basketball team faces a disappointing end to the regular season but looks ahead to the Big West Championships with a focus on redeeming their performance in the postseason.