What 2 Watch 4
With four weeks remaining in the 2025-26 Big West regular season schedule, Hawai‘i (17-5, 9-3 BW) and UC Irvine (16-8, 9-3 BW) are now tied for first place in the standings. Half a game behind is UC Santa Barbara (16-8, 9-4 BW), followed by UC Davis (15-9, 8-5 BW) and CSUN (15-10, 8-5 BW) tied for fourth place.
Thursday’s matchups will feature Hawai‘i at Cal State Bakersfield (8-17, 2-11 BW), Cal State Fullerton (12-13, 7-6 BW) at Long Beach State (8-16, 4-8 BW), UC Santa Barbara at UC Riverside (8-17, 3-10 BW), UC Davis at UC San Diego (16-9, 6-7 BW) and UC Irvine at Cal Poly (9-16, 4-8 BW).
Saturday’s schedule is highlighted by two local rivalries. Cal Poly hosts central coast rival UC Santa Barbara in another edition of the blue-green rivalry and locally televised on Spectrum SportsNet. UC Irvine will welcome Cal State Fullerton to the Bren Events Center for Orange County bragging rights.
The rest of the weekend slate is filled out by the matchups of Long Beach State at UC Davis, Hawai‘i at CSUN and Cal State Fullerton at UC Irvine.
All games on the schedule this week will air on the ESPN+. Check listings for specific game information.
Around the League
Hawai‘i is 17-5 overall with an 9-3 league mark, tied for first in the standings. The Rainbow Warriors top the league in scoring defense (66.8 Opp PPG) and 3-point shooting defense (.274), which ranks fourth in NCAA. Center Isaac Johnson, guard Dre Bullock and forward Harry Rouhliadeff average 13.5, 12.6 and 11.0 points per contest, respectively.
UC Irvine is 16-8 overall and in a tie for first place with a 9-3 league record. The Anteaters lead the league in blocks (6.1 BPG), field goal percentage defense (.378) and defensive rebounds (28.7 DRPG), which nationally rank third, fourth and eighth, respectively. They are also second in the league in rebounds (40.6 RPG) and scoring defense (67.7 Opp PPG). Forward Kyle Evans leads the conference and nation blocks per game (3.4). Evans is also the league runner-up in field goal percentage (.633) and rebounds per outing (8.4). Guard Jurian Dixon is seventh in the league in scoring (15.4 PPG).
UC Santa Barbara is third in the league with a 9-4 conference mark, 16-8 overall. As a team, UCSB leads the league in field goal percentage (.483) and 3-point percentage (.382), and second in free throw percentage (.760). Guard Miro Little is second in the league in assists at 4.5 per game. Five Gauchos average double figures with guard Aidan Mahaney (14.6 PPG) leading the way.
As a team, the Aggies are second in the conference in assist (16.1 APG), steals (7.8 SPG), 3-point percentage (.363), turnover margin (+1.8) and turnovers forced (14.7 Opp TO/G). Guard Connor Sevilla logs 13.8 points per game on a .443 percent shooting from behind the arc, the second-best in the conference to teammate Carl Daughtery Jr. (.447). Guard Brayden Fagbemi is the league leader in steals (2.0 SPG) and third in assists (4.3 APG).
CSUN tops the league in assists (17.6 APG), rebounds (41.7 RPG) and offensive rebounds (13.2 ORPG). Guard Larry Hughes II records a league second-best 18.7 points per outing, making a conference-leading 3.4 3-pointers per game. Guard Joshua O’Garro leads the league in rebounds averaging 9.6 boards per contest and guard Josiah Davis tops the conference in assists at 7.3 dimes per game. Davis is third in the nation in total assists with 182 on the season.
Cal State Fullerton leads the league in scoring offense (83.8 PPG), assist/turnover ratio (1.35), bench points (33.8 bench PPG), fastbreak points (18.5 FB PPG), steals (8.4 SPG) and turnovers forced (15.4 Opp TO/G). Guards Joshua Ward and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro average 14.4 and 13.0 points per outing. Forward Landon Seaman produces 12.3 points per contest off the bench. Guard Christian Williams is second in the league in steals with 1.9 per game.
UC San Diego’s offense produces the least turnovers per contest (11.2) in the league. Guard Tom Beattie has the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league at 2.3. Guard Emmanuel Prospere II gets 1.9 steals per outing, the third-most in the conference. Forward Leo Beath average 13.8 points per game.
Cal Poly makes the most 3-pointers in the league at 10.9 per game, good for 13th in the nation. The Mustangs also have the top free throw percentage at .775. Guard/forward Hamad Mousa logs a league-best 20.8 points per contest, which ranks 18th in the NCAA. Guard Cayden Ward and forward Peter Bandelj pitch in 13.9 and 13.8 points per game, respectively.
Long Beach State guard Gavin Sykes averages a league third-best 18.2 points per contest and forward Petar Majstorovic puts away 15.4 points per outing.
UC Riverside guards Marqui Worthy Jr. (34.4 MPG) and Andrew Henderson (33.6 MPG) are first and second in minutes played in the league. Henderson and Worthy Jr. log 17.1 and 15.8 points per outing, the fourth and fifth most in the conference.
Cal State Bakersfield is second in the league, 17th in the nation, in blocked shots (5.1 BPG). The Roadrunners are also second in free throw made (18.1 FTM/G) and offensive rebounds (12.1 ORPG). Guard Dailin Smith average 15.8 points per contest, which ranks sixth in the league. Forward Ronald Jessamy averages 1.9 blocks per game which ranks second in the conference.
The Big West in the Rankings
In October, The Big West announced an enhanced agreement with Credit Union 1, the Official Credit Union, Bank and Financial Services Partner of The Big West, to become the title partner of the 2026 Big West Basketball Championships, March 11-14, 2026, at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev. All-Session tickets are available now!
Hoops in Henderson
In October, The Big West announced an enhanced agreement with Credit Union 1, the Official Credit Union, Bank and Financial Services Partner of The Big West, to become the title partner of the 2026 Big West Basketball Championships, March 11-14, 2026, at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev. All-Session tickets are available now! Learn more >>>
Third & Fourth Wildcard Selection Revealed
Two more wildcard selections have been made by ESPN, with Hawai’i set to host UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. PT/5 p.m. HT on ESPNU as part of AC Carter Night at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Additionally, the Gauchos will head to UC Irvine on Saturday, Feb. 28 for a 7:30 p.m. PT tip from The Bren Events Center on ESPN2 as the top three teams in The Big West are showcased nationally in consecutive weekends to close out the month.
For more, click here.
Watch Us Work
Building on one of the most successful men’s and women’s seasons since the 1990’s, The Big West has announced that more than 350 men’s and women’s basketball games will be available nationally on the ESPN family of networks and Spectrum SportsNet during 2025-26 season. All Big West men’s and women’s basketball home games and all seven games of the Credit Union I 2026 Big West Women’s Basketball Championship will stream nationally on ESPN+. Additionally, The Big West will continue its regional partnership with Spectrum SportsNet for the fifth consecutive season. Five women’s contests are part of the 14-game Spectrum SportsNet package with Long Beach State, UC San Diego, Hawai’i, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly each slated to appear. Learn more >>> |
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