What 2 Watch 4
With five weeks remaining in the regular season, UC Irvine (15-7, 8-2 BW) has a half game lead on Hawai‘i (16-5, 8-3 BW) and UC Santa Barbara (15-7, 8-3 BW) in the Big West standings. UC Davis (13-9, 6-5 BW) and CSUN (13-10, 6-5 BW) are the two other teams above .500 in conference play.
Thursday’s slate will feature two of the top five teams battle it out as the Aggies host the Gauchos. The other four mid-week matchups are Cal State Bakersfield (8-15, 2-9 BW) at UC Irvine, Long Beach State (8-15, 4-7 BW) at UC San Diego (15-8, 5-6 BW), UC Riverside (8-15, 3-8 BW) at Cal State Fullerton (10-13, 5-6 BW) and Cal Poly (9-14, 5-6 BW) at CSUN (13-10, 6-5 BW).
Saturday’s schedule is highlighted by a nationally-televised game with UC Santa Barbara, who comes into the week tied for second place, welcoming first-place UC Irvine to the Thunderdome. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on ESPNU.
Also on Saturday is a locally televised game on Spectrum SportsNet between UC Riverside and CSUN at 1 p.m. PT. The rest of the weekend matchups are filled out by Cal Poly at UC Davis, Cal State Bakersfield at Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine at UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego at Hawai‘i.
All games on the schedule this week will air on the ESPN+. Check listings for specific game information.
Around the League
UC Irvine is 15-7 overall and in first place with an 8-2 league record. The Anteaters lead the league in blocks (6.2), field goal percentage defense (.373) and defensive rebounds per game (29.2), which nationally rank second, third and ninth, respectively. They are also second in the league in rebounds (41.0) and scoring defense (67.2). Forward Kyle Evans leads the conference and nation blocks per game (3.4). Evans is also the league runner-up in field goal percentage (.628) and rebounds per outing (8.5). Guard Jurian Dixon is sixth in the league in scoring (15.7 PPG).
Hawai‘i is 16-5 overall with an 8-3 league mark, tied for second the standings. The Rainbow Warriors top the league in scoring defense (66.8) and 3-point shooting defense (.274). Center Isaac Johnson, guard Dre Bullock and forward Harry Rouhliadeff average 13.1, 12.8 and 11.2 points per contest, respectively.
UC Santa Barbara is riding a six-game win streak for a 15-7 overall record and tied for second with an 8-3 conference mark. As a team, UCSB leads the league in field goal percentage (.481) and 3-point percentage (.387), 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 (14.3 PPG) leading the way.
As a team, the Aggies are second in the conference in assist (16.3), steals (7.8), 3-point percentage (.362), turnover margin (+1.6) and turnovers forced (14.6) per contest. Guard Connor Sevilla logs 13.8 points per game on a conference-best .447 percent shooting from behind the arc. Guard Brayden Fagbemi is third in the league in steals per game (1.9) and assists per outing (4.2). Guard Nils Cooper averages a team-best 14.0 points per game.
CSUN tops the league in assists (17.1), rebounds (42.1) and offensive rebounds (13.5) per game. The Matadors are second in defensive rebounds per contest (28.6), which ranks 11th in the nation. Guard Larry Hughes II records a league third-best 18.1 points per outing, making a conference-leading 3.3 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 7.0 dimes per game. Davis is third in the nation in total assists with 162 on the season.
UC San Diego’s offense has the best assist/turnover ratio (1.36) and produce the least turnovers per contest (11.0) in the league. The 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 second-most in the conference. Forward Leo Beath average 14.5 points per game.
Cal State Fullerton leads the league in scoring, averaging 84.1 points per game, turnover margin at +3.8, steals at 8.6 per outing, bench points at 33.6 per contest and fastbreak points at 18.4 per game. Guards Joshua Ward and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro average 14.4 and 13.0 points per outing. Forward Landon Seaman produces 12.2 points per contest off the bench. Guard Christian Williams leads the league in steals with 2.0 per game.
Cal Poly makes the most 3-pointers in the league at 10.7 per game, good for 20th in the nation. The Mustangs also have the top free throw percentage at .705. Guard/forward Hamad Mousa logs a league-best 20.6 points per contest, which ranks 22nd in the NCAA. Guard Cayden Ward and forward Peter Bandelj pitch in 14.3 and 13.7 points per game, respectively.
Long Beach State guard Gavin Sykes averages a league second-best 18.2 points per contest and forward Petar Majstorovic puts away 15.2 points per outing.
UC Riverside guards Marqui Worthy Jr. (34.4 MPG) and Andrew Henderson (33.4 MPG) are first and second in minutes played in the league. Henderson logs a league fourth-best 17.3 points per game. Worthy Jr. pitches in 14.9 points per outing.
Cal State Bakersfield is second in the league in free throw made (18.4 FTM/G), offensive rebounds (11.9 ORPG) and blocked shots (5.1 BPG). The Roadrunners’ blocked shots mark ranks 22nd nationally. Guard Dailin Smith average 16.2 points per contest, which ranks fifth in the league. Forward Ronald Jessamy averages 2.0 blocks per game which ranks second in the conference.
The Big West in the Rankings
The Big West has three teams featured in the latest edition of the College Insider Men’s Basketball Mid-Major Top 25 poll. Hawai‘i is ranked No. 12, followed by UC Irvine at No. 13 and UC Santa Barbara at No. 24. UC San Diego is receiving votes in the poll.
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 >>>
Second Wildcard Selection Revealed
UC Santa Barbara hosts league-leading UC Irvine at the Thunderdome in the second game of the ESPN’s Big West Wildcard Selection on Feb. 7. It will be the first meeting this season between the Anteaters and Gauchos. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on ESPNU.
UC Irvine is in first place in The Big West standings, while UC Santa Barbara is the hottest team in the league, riding a six-game win streak and sitting in a tie for second place. Dave Feldman (play-by-play) and Corey Williams (analyst) will be on the call from Santa Barbara.
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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