BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — UC Santa Barbara built a large first-half lead and withstood a fierce Cal State Bakersfield comeback for a 75-69 men’s basketball victory Thursday night at Icardo Center. The Gauchos led 38-29 at halftime and by as many as 18 points before the Roadrunners charged back, cutting the deficit to two points late in the second half. UC Santa Barbara sealed the win at the free-throw line, making 23 of 29 attempts. Colin Smith led the Gauchos with 16 points, while Zion Sensley added 13. Mike Price paced Cal State Bakersfield with 14 points. UC Santa Barbara improved to 10-7 overall, while Cal State Bakersfield fell to 8-11.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half performance built on long-range shooting and a stifling defense proved just enough for UC Santa Barbara to hold off a furious second-half rally by Cal State Bakersfield and escape the Icardo Center with a 75-69 victory in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night. The Gauchos (10-7, 1-1 Big West) snapped a three-game conference losing streak by leveraging a decisive advantage from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line to overcome a sloppy offensive performance and a relentless Roadrunners’ attack in the paint. Cal State Bakersfield fell to 8-11 overall and 1-1 in league play. The most critical phase of the game was its opening stanza, where UC Santa Barbara established a lead that would never be relinquished. The Gauchos raced out to a 38-29 halftime advantage, a margin built almost entirely on three-point shooting and free throws. While both teams struggled from the field early, UCSB found its rhythm from deep, connecting on 6 of 14 three-point attempts in the half. Conversely, the Roadrunners missed all seven of their attempts from long range before halftime and managed just 2 of 12 for the game. That outside shooting disparity, combined with UC Santa Barbara’s aggression drawing fouls, created a cushion that became essential. The Gauchos attempted 18 free throws in the first half, making 14, while Cal State Bakersfield went to the line only seven times. Colin Smith, who finished with a team-high 16 points, was pivotal in this stretch, scoring 11 before the break and consistently getting to the charity stripe. The Gauchos’ defensive effort, particularly their rim protection with six total blocks, also disrupted the Roadrunners’ interior-focused offense early. Evans Kipruto and Miro Little each recorded first-half blocks that helped fuel the visitors’ momentum. However, the game transformed entirely after halftime. Cal State Bakersfield, led by Mike Price’s 14 points and Jaden Alexander’s 13, abandoned its ineffective perimeter game and attacked the basket with purpose. The Roadrunners scored 40 second-half points, shooting 57.7% from the field after the break and dominating points in the paint 38-22 for the game. Their pressure defense also generated 13 points off nine UCSB turnovers. A 10-2 run midway through the second half brought Cal State Bakersfield within four points, sending a surge through the sparse crowd of 284. The Roadrunners repeatedly cut the deficit to a single possession, but each time UC Santa Barbara found a critical answer. A key sequence came with just over seven minutes remaining when Zion Sensley, who scored 13 points, hit a crucial three-pointer off an assist from Hosana Kitenge to push the lead back to six after the Roadrunners had closed to within three. The Gauchos’ offense, while inefficient for much of the night—shooting just 44.7% from the field with only two assists—made enough plays in the closing minutes. Miro Little of Finland, who added 12 points and four assists, and CJ Shaw, with 10 points, hit timely shots and free throws to keep the Roadrunners at bay. Cal State Bakersfield’s comeback attempt was ultimately undone by its first-half shooting woes and an inability to get consistent stops in the final minutes. Despite winning the turnover battle and scoring 15 fast-break points to UCSB’s five, the Roadrunners could never fully overcome the early hole. Ronald Jessamy joined Price and Alexander in double figures with 12 points. UC Santa Barbara’s victory, while narrow, was a significant bounce-back after dropping its Big West opener last week. The Gauchos improved their offensive rating to 123.4 points per 100 possessions in this game, a marked increase in efficiency compared to their recent outings. Cal State Bakersfield, which had won two of its last three, saw its record in close games fall to 3-5 in contests decided by six points or fewer. Both teams return to conference action Saturday. UC Santa Barbara hosts Hawaii, while Cal State Bakersfield welcomes UC San Diego.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging Cal State Bakersfield squad will look to avenge a lopsided early-season loss when it hosts UC Santa Barbara in a Big West Conference men’s basketball clash Thursday night at Icardo Center. The Roadrunners (8-10, 2-2 Big West) have won three of their last four, including a narrow 67-66 home victory over UC Riverside last Thursday and a dramatic 81-79 road win at UC Davis on Jan. 3. They are led by dynamic guard Jaden Alexander, who is coming off a 29-point performance in a 75-81 loss at Long Beach State on Saturday. Alexander erupted for 35 points and 11 rebounds in the win at UC Davis, establishing himself as one of the conference’s most potent scorers. They face a UC Santa Barbara team (9-7, 1-2) seeking to regain momentum after back-to-back losses. The Gauchos fell 86-93 to UC Davis at home on Jan. 8, despite 20 points and five assists from guard Miro Little. UCSB’s last victory was a 79-61 non-conference win over Portland on Dec. 22. The previous meeting this season heavily favors the Gauchos. On Dec. 6 in Santa Barbara, UCSB dominated in a 109-84 rout. Cal State Bakersfield will aim for a drastically different result on its home floor, where it is 5-3 this season. For UCSB, consistency is key. Following the Portland win, they have struggled, dropping close games to Green Bay and Utah Valley before the current two-game skid. Little, alongside backcourt mates CJ Shaw and Aidan Mahaney, who combined for 54 points in the loss to UC Davis, will be central to the Gauchos’ efforts to steady their conference campaign. The matchup pits Bakersfield’s recent resilience against a Santa Barbara team with superior overall record but recent struggles. A Roadrunner win would mark a significant turnaround from December and bolster their conference standing, while the Gauchos are desperate to avoid a third consecutive loss. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.