The UC Santa Barbara men’s basketball team launched its 2026-27 season on Monday night at The Thunderdome with an 85-55 victory against Division II opponent San Francisco State, as The Santa Barbara Independent reported.
The Gauchos, now 1-0 on the year, took firm control of the contest through a pivotal 12-0 scoring stretch. That run initiated during the final 10 seconds of the opening half and carried over into the opening minutes of the second half. The sustained sequence expanded a 39-26 lead into a 51-26 advantage, placing the game well out of reach for the visiting Gators.
UCSB demonstrated extensive depth during the victory, receiving 55 points from its bench players. The team also generated 40 points inside the paint, distributed 18 assists, and gathered 10 steals over the course of the night. On the defensive end, the Gauchos held San Francisco State to 40 percent shooting from the field and restricted the Gators to a 21 percent conversion rate from beyond the three-point arc.
Early in the first half, UCSB found itself trailing 6-2 before answering with a 10-0 run. That early turnaround featured successful field goals from Koat Keat Tong, Miro Little, Viljami Vartiainen, and RJ Smith, pushing the Gauchos ahead 12-6. San Francisco State later trimmed the UCSB advantage to two points at 19-17. However, the Gauchos reclaimed command through scoring contributions from Antonio Chol, Eric Dibami, and Michael Simcoe. Chol sank a three-pointer with 1:47 remaining in the period and added a dunk in the final 10 seconds, helping send UCSB into the halftime break with a 41-26 lead.
The Gauchos widened their cushion immediately after the restart. Dibami opened second-half play with a layup and followed shortly after with a fast-break dunk. Consecutive three-pointers from Little and Chol capped the early second-half momentum, extending the scoreboard to 56-29 with 15:09 left on the clock.
San Francisco State responded with a short rally by creating turnovers, cutting the deficit to 58-43. UCSB halted the momentum shift when Marvin McGhee IV knocked down two three-pointers and Smith added another, restoring a 23-point margin at 67-44 with 7:15 remaining.
Between the 6:08 mark and the 4:24 mark, the Gauchos mounted an additional 8-0 run. Jordan Charles, Vartiainen, and Luke Zuffelato each converted baskets during that stretch. The home team maintained its advantage late in the contest through defensive contributions, including blocked shots from Chol and Marco John Wuol. Charles produced six points in the final 6:08 while recording a steal to wrap up the victory.
Over the second half, UCSB outworked San Francisco State on the glass, recording a 26-18 rebounding edge while accumulating six total blocks in the game.
Following the final buzzer, head coach Joe Pasternack commended the play of Declan Duru Jr., noting his high energy and development. Pasternack told The Santa Barbara Independent that he was very pleased to see Duru's energy and called his improvement unbelievable. Pasternack pointed out that Duru competed hard, noting that the program possesses a deep roster that fosters a competitive environment daily.
The Gauchos remain at home for their next fixture on Saturday, Nov. 7, when they host Oakland University at The Thunderdome. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
