UCSB celebrated the New Year just like everyone else on Friday, although the Gauchos were just as happy that it was a new month.
The Gauchos lost five-of-six games in December after a 4-1 start and look to return to a winning pattern as they begin Big West Conference play on Saturday at UC Irvine. Tip-off at the Bren Center is set for 7 p.m.
UC Irvine, picked to finish eighth in a pre-season media poll, is 4-1 this season at home. Santa Barbara was picked to finish second in the Big West and is 2-3 on the road. But those predictions were made in October and both team enter conference play with .500 records.
UCSB (5-5) recently snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating Furman on the first day of the Cal Bear Classic, only to get crushed by the hosts the following day 87-66.
The Anteaters (6-6) are coming off a 78-68 loss to San Jose State. Eric Wise topped the Anteaters with 31 points. Wise, a 6-5, 230-pound forward, leads Irvine in scoring (15.4 ppg), assists (39) and rebounding (5.7 rpg). Michael Hunter pitches in 15 points a game.
UCSB’s answer to Wise is sophomore Orlando Johnson, who is leading the Gauchos in scoring at 16.6 ppg and rebounding at 5.9 rpg. James Nunnally is the only other Gaucho averaging double-digit points with 12 ppg.
The Gauchos move on to UC Riverside on Monday before returning home to the Thunderdome on Thursday to host UC Davis.
