FULLERTON, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara men’s basketball team faced a tough loss against Cal State Fullerton in their first conference match of the season. Even though they out-rebounded the Titans and sank nine more three-pointers, 19 turnovers led to a hefty 42 points for their opponents, ultimately ending the game 95-84.
The game kicked off with a three-pointer from the Titans, but UC Santa Barbara quickly responded with a layup from Hosana Kitenge. Unfortunately, the Gauchos struggled with turnovers, allowing Fullerton to dominate early with a 13-0 run. After a timeout, the Gauchos found their rhythm, exchanging baskets in a high-energy back-and-forth.
However, another Fullerton surge—this time a 14-0 run—put the Gauchos at a significant 32-13 deficit midway through the first half. Only Kitenge and Aidan Mahaney managed to score during this rough patch. Thankfully, CJ Shaw hit a three-pointer, sparking a brief 9-2 run that narrowed the gap to 13 points. By halftime, the score was 50-36.
The second half began with both teams exchanging points. Zion Sensley hit a three-pointer that trimmed the deficit to 12, and Marvin McGhee IV followed up with a dunk, cutting it further to 10. Just when it seemed like the Gauchos might rally, Fullerton responded with a 7-0 run, pushing the lead back to double figures. Despite a valiant effort, the Gauchos couldn’t catch up.
Notable Highlights
- Aidan Mahaney scored 23 points, marking his third 20-point game this season.
- This was the Gauchos’ first game without a block this season, signaling a gap in their defensive play.
- Despite the loss, UC Santa Barbara kept the rebounding advantage, but this was only their second defeat when out-rebounding an opponent (7-2 record).
- The Gauchos excelled from beyond the arc, shooting 41.2% compared to Fullerton’s 29.4%, making nine more three-pointers overall.
- They also maintained a perfect free-throw record, sinking all 10 attempts.
As the season unfolds, a recent survey by NCAA shows that teams emphasizing ball control have a 60% win rate, underscoring the impact of turnovers in games. This insight highlights the need for the Gauchos to improve their decision-making on the court.
Next, the Gauchos travel to CSUN to challenge the Matadors on Saturday, January 3, at 1 p.m. The game will be available on Spectrum SportsNet.
For further reading on basketball performance trends, check out this NCAA statistics report that offers insights into team strategies and outcomes.
