The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos secured a 76-68 win over the UC Riverside Highlanders, led by Aidan Mahaney's 20 points. Mahaney's performance was key in the second half, where UC Santa Barbara outscored UC Riverside 47-33. The Gauchos' 17-8 record now includes 8 wins on the road, with their NET ranking standing at 123. UC Riverside, on the other hand, falls to 8-18, with a NET ranking of 287. The Highlanders' Andrew Henderson had a notable performance, scoring 22 points.
UC Santa Barbara's Aidan Mahaney Scores 20 Points for the 5th Time This Season
The game was closely contested in the first half, with UC Riverside taking a 35-29 lead into halftime. However, UC Santa Barbara came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Highlanders 47-33. The Gauchos' CJ Shaw had a significant impact, scoring 18 points and dishing out 5 assists. UC Riverside's Jailen Daniel-Dalton contributed 15 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Gauchos' second-half surge. The Highlanders' 33 points in the second half were not sufficient to keep up with UC Santa Barbara's 47. The Gauchos' 76 points were the most they have scored in their last 5 games, with an average of 71.2 points per game during that stretch.
Aidan Mahaney and Andrew Henderson were the top performers in the game, with Mahaney scoring 20 points and Henderson scoring 22. CJ Shaw and Jailen Daniel-Dalton also had notable performances, with Shaw scoring 18 points and Daniel-Dalton scoring 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Zion Sensley added 13 points and 8 rebounds for the Gauchos, while Marqui Worthy Jr. scored 14 points for the Highlanders. The Gauchos' balanced attack was evident, with 4 players scoring in double figures. UC Riverside's top 3 scorers, Henderson, Daniel-Dalton, and Worthy Jr., combined for 51 of the team's 68 points.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The Gauchos outscored the Highlanders 47-33 in the second half, with a field goal percentage of 51.7% compared to UC Riverside's 40.6%. The Highlanders had 12 turnovers, while the Gauchos had 9. The Gauchos also outrebounded the Highlanders 34-32, with Zion Sensley and Jailen Daniel-Dalton each grabbing 8 rebounds. The Gauchos' 76 points were the result of 45.5% field goal shooting, including 35.7% from 3-point range. The Highlanders, on the other hand, shot 42.9% from the field and 30.8% from 3-point range.
The CHD Scout predicted a UC Santa Barbara win by 15.9 points, with a predicted score of 68-84. Although the Gauchos didn't cover the predicted margin, they still secured an 8-point victory. The prediction was correct in terms of the winner, but the margin was off by 7.9 points. The CHD Scout's prediction was based on the teams' NET rankings, with UC Santa Barbara ranked 123 and UC Riverside ranked 287. The Gauchos' performance was consistent with their ranking, while the Highlanders' performance was slightly better than expected.
The win for UC Santa Barbara was a Quadrant 4 game, according to the NCAA's quadrant system. The Gauchos' NET ranking of 123 will likely remain relatively stable, given the win over a lower-ranked opponent. UC Riverside, on the other hand, was playing a Quadrant 3 game, but the loss will likely drop their NET ranking. The Highlanders' current record of 8-18 and NET ranking of 287 make it unlikely for them to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Gauchos, with their 17-8 record and NET ranking of 123, are still in contention for an at-large bid, but they must continue to perform well in their remaining games.
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will face the Cal Poly Mustangs on February 19, while the UC Riverside Highlanders will face the CSU Fullerton Titans on February 17. Both games matters for the teams' tournament hopes, with the Gauchos looking to solidify their position and the Highlanders seeking to improve their resume. The Gauchos must maintain their current level of performance, with an average of 71.2 points per game over their last 5 games. The Highlanders, on the other hand, must bounce back from their loss, with a focus on improving their 42.9% field goal shooting.