UC Santa Barbara defeats UC Riverside 76-68

Aidan Mahaney scores 20 points to lead Gauchos to victory

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos defeated the UC Riverside Highlanders 76-68 on Thursday. Aidan Mahaney led the Gauchos with 20 points, helping his team improve to 17-8 on the season. The Highlanders dropped to 8-18 with the loss.

Why it matters

This Big West Conference matchup was an important game for both teams as they look to position themselves for the upcoming conference tournament. The Gauchos are looking to solidify their standing near the top of the league, while the Highlanders are hoping to build momentum and improve their record.

The details

The Gauchos were led by Aidan Mahaney's 20 points, with the sophomore guard making key shots down the stretch to help secure the victory. UC Santa Barbara shot 45% from the field and held a 36-30 rebounding advantage over UC Riverside.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Aidan Mahaney

A sophomore guard for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos who scored a team-high 20 points in the victory.

UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

The men's basketball team from the University of California, Santa Barbara, who improved to 17-8 on the season with the win.

UC Riverside Highlanders

The men's basketball team from the University of California, Riverside, who dropped to 8-18 on the year with the loss.

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The takeaway

This was an important Big West Conference win for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos as they look to solidify their position near the top of the league standings. The Highlanders will need to regroup and try to build some momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.