UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos (25-7) vs UC Riverside Highlanders (22-11)
Game Info: Friday, March 10, 2023 at 11:30 pm (Dollar Loan Center)
Betting Odds: UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos -2.5 -- Over/Under: 132.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will play the UC Riverside Highlanders in the Semifinals of the Big West Tournament on Friday night at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada.
UC Santa Barbara Preview
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are 25-7 (15-5) this season after they defeated Cal Poly by a score of 64-54 in their last game. UC Santa Barbara shot 44.7% from the field and made 19 free throws in the win. The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are averaging 71.6 points per game, 65.1 points against per game, 32.3 rebounds per game, and 14.2 assists per game. Ajay Mitchell has led the Gauchos this season with 15.9 points per game, 5.1 assists per game, and 2.7 rebounds per game. UCSB is shooting 49.3% from the field, 72.5% on free throws, and 34.5% on three pointers this year.
UC Riverside Preview
The UC Riverside Highlanders are 22-11 (14-6) this season after they defeated UC Davis by a score of 68-52 in their last game. UC Riverside shot 50.9% from the field and made 9 three pointers in the win. The UC Riverside Highlanders are averaging 72 points per game, 68.5 points against per game, 36.9 rebounds per game, and 13.2 assists per game. Zyon Pullin has led the Highlanders this season with 18.1 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and 4.2 assists per game. UC Riverside is shooting 44.1% from the field, 68.9% on free throws, and 35.9% on three pointers this year.
Trends
UC Riverside is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games. The over is 27-13 in UC Riverside’s last 40 games. UCSB is 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games and 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games. The over is 13-3 in UCSB’s last 16 games. The underdog is 19-7-1 ATS in these two teams last 27 head to head meetings.
Pick
UCSB finished the regular season tied for first place in the Big West standings and they have won five games in a row. UC Riverside finished third in the Big West and they have won six of their last seven games. UC Riverside did win both of the meetings in the regular season against UCSB by scores of 65-64 and 74-63. Despite losing the two earlier meetings, I like UCSB in this matchup. The Gauchos have a much better shooting percentage from the field and I think that will be the difference here.
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David’s Pick UCSB -2.5
AUTHOR: David Racey
Mitch's Take...
