UC Davis Aggies vs. UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Prediction for Big West Tournament UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara enter the Big West Tournament with identical 18-13 overall records and 11-9 conference marks, but their late-season trajectories differ. UC Santa Barbara has lost four of its last five games, with each loss highlighting the fragility of its recent performance. The Gauchos fell in overtime to CSUN and Hawaii, dropped a four-point game at UC Irvine, and narrowly missed a buzzer-beater at home against UC San Diego. UC Davis, meanwhile, has a 2-3 record in its last five contests but has shown more offensive consistency, with recent games featuring scores of 92 at Fullerton, 78 at Riverside, 76 in an overtime win at Long Beach State, and 79 in an overtime game at Irvine. The Aggies’ recent games have also demonstrated better defensive resilience, allowing just 78.4 points per game in their last five contests. While their offense has remained steady at 77.6 points per game, their ability to create turnovers and capitalize on free throws has been a key strength. UC Santa Barbara, on the other hand, has struggled with turnovers and inconsistent shooting, scoring 61 against CSUN despite 40 three-point attempts, 60 at Irvine with 18 turnovers, and 63 against UC San Diego while committing 17 turnovers. Player performance further highlights the teams’ contrasting paths. UC Santa Barbara’s Aidan Mahaney remains its top scorer, averaging 19.4 points over the last five games, while Colin Smith contributes 14.8 points per game and CJ Shaw provides secondary scoring. The return of Miro Little, who posted 10 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in 34 minutes, has given the Gauchos a potential spark, though his impact remains to be seen.#uc_davis_agnies #uc_santa_barbara_gauchos #big_west_tournament #aidan_mahaney #colin_smith
