Gauchos Dominate Bakersfield, Secure Fifth Consecutive Victory
SANTA BARBARA, CA – The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos delivered a commanding performance Saturday, defeating the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners 109-84 and extending their winning streak against their rivals to 13 games. The victory marks the largest margin of victory for UCSB over Bakersfield in program history.
The Gauchos’ second-half surge, ignited by a three-pointer from Zion Sensley assisted by CJ Shaw at 18:41, propelled them to a decisive win. Consistent scoring from Hosana Kitenge, who contributed a layup and free throw at 14:22 to push the score to 66-50, and continued offensive prowess from Aidan Mahaney, solidified UCSB’s control.defensive plays, including a block and rebound by Evans Kipruto at 10:52, further cemented their momentum. Michael Simcoe added to the Gauchos’ lead with a dunk at 6:08 and a three-pointer at 2:25.
This win carries notable weight for the Gauchos, who haven’t lost to Bakersfield as the 2016-17 season. It also represents a return to high-powered offense, marking the first time since January 21, 2021, that UCSB has scored 100 or more points in a Big West game. Mahaney led all scorers with a career-high 30 points, surpassing his previous best of 26 set just one game prior. Sensley recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds, including five offensive boards.CJ Shaw continues to demonstrate exceptional ball control, maintaining a 6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio over the last four games.
The Gauchos will now turn their attention to their next challenge,traveling to Salt Lake City,Utah,to face Utah Valley at the Delta Center on Saturday,December 13.
