Preview: UC Riverside at UC Santa Barbara SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Interstat) — UC Santa Barbara looks to solidify its position in the Big West Conference standings when it hosts struggling UC Riverside on Thursday night at the Thunderdome. The Gauchos (17-11, 8-7 Big West) enter the matchup seeking to halt a three-game skid, most recently a 78-75 overtime loss at Hawaii on Feb. 21. Despite the recent slide, they hold a clear advantage in the standings over the visiting Highlanders (9-20, 4-11), who sit near the conference basement. UC Santa Barbara will rely on guard Colin Smith, who is averaging 15.4 points per game over his last five contests. He scored 19 in the overtime loss to Hawaii. The Gauchos won the previous meeting this season, 76-68 at Riverside on Feb. 12, though Smith was held to seven points in that victory. UC Riverside’s hopes will rest heavily on the hot hand of Andrew Henderson. The guard is averaging 22.9 points over his last seven games, including a 39-point outburst against Cal Poly on Jan. 31. He scored 22 in the loss to UC Santa Barbara earlier this month. The Highlanders have lost eight of their last ten games, including a 78-73 home defeat to UC Davis on Feb. 21. The Gauchos have been strong at home this season, boasting an 11-3 record at the Thunderdome. UC Riverside is 3-12 in road games. Following this contest, UC Santa Barbara travels to face UC Irvine on Saturday. UC Riverside hosts Cal State Northridge on Saturday.