Gauchos Dominate Pilots in Convincing Win
Monday, December 22, 2025, 5:00 PM ET · The Thunderdome
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 79, Portland Pilots 61, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Portland Pilots vs UC Santa Barbara Gauchos?
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos beat Portland Pilots 79-61 at The Thunderdome on December 22, 2025.
Who was favored in Portland Pilots vs UC Santa Barbara Gauchos?
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -485 (about 83% implied). The favorite won.
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos showcased a commanding performance against the Portland Pilots, securing a decisive 79-61 victory at The Thunderdome. This matchup was particularly noteworthy as it marked the second meeting between these teams in the current season, with UCSB having previously triumphed 94-53 in their earlier encounter on November 9, 2024.
Entering this game, the Gauchos held a home record of 9-4, while the Pilots stood at 7-6 overall. UCSB's recent form included a mixed bag of results, with a record of 6-4 over their last ten games and a streak of two consecutive losses leading up to this matchup. They averaged 77.0 points scored while allowing 72.8 points per game during this stretch. In contrast, Portland's recent form was slightly better, with a record of 5-5 in their last ten games, but they had lost their most recent outing against Oregon, where they fell 69-94. The Pilots averaged 79.8 points scored but struggled defensively, allowing 82.9 points per game during their last ten games.
At home, UCSB had a solid record of 4-1, while Portland struggled away, holding a record of 0-3 in their away games. This disparity in performance at home versus away was a critical factor in the outcome of the game. The Gauchos had been looking to bounce back from their recent losses, and the home court advantage played a significant role in their ability to execute their game plan effectively.
The injury report showed no significant absences for either team, allowing both squads to field their best players. This was crucial for the Gauchos, who needed all hands on deck to regain their footing after two tough losses. The betting market reflected UCSB's strong position, with DraftKings listing them as 9.5-point favorites, indicating a strong belief in their ability to perform well at home. The total for the game was set at 147.5, suggesting expectations of a moderately high-scoring affair.
The conditions inside The Thunderdome were conducive to an exciting game, with a lively crowd supporting the Gauchos. As the game progressed, UCSB demonstrated their offensive prowess, particularly in the second half, where they pulled away decisively. Key scoring plays included a series of assists from Joel Foxwell, who facilitated multiple baskets, including a 24-foot three-point jumper by Garrett Nuckolls and a spectacular alley-oop dunk by James O'Donnell.
UCSB's ability to maintain control of the game was evident as they built a significant lead, with their scoring plays punctuating their dominance. By the end of the game, the Gauchos had established a comfortable margin, showcasing their capability to score effectively while also tightening their defense against the Pilots.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the Gauchos' resilience and ability to perform under pressure, particularly after their recent struggles. The victory not only improved their record but also served as a statement of intent as they look to build momentum moving forward in the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UCSB -9.5 | 147.5 o -112 / u -108 | Portland Pilots +370 · UC Santa Barbara Gauchos -485 |
Leaders
- PointsAidan Mahaney15UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
- AssistsCJ Shaw11UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
- ReboundsEvans Kipruto8UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
- PointsJames O'Donnell15Portland Pilots
- AssistsJoel Foxwell7Portland Pilots
- ReboundsCameron Williams7Portland Pilots
Recent form
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Last 10: 6-4Streak L277 scored · 72.8 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L64-67at Green Bay PhoenixDec 18
- L53-68at Utah Valley WolverinesDec 13
- W109-84vs Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersDec 7
- W84-77vs Long Beach State BeachDec 5
- W74-71vs Seattle U RedhawksNov 29
- W72-70at Lehigh Mountain HawksNov 28
- W84-49vs Nobel KnightsNov 25
- L64-77at Nevada Wolf PackNov 22
- L74-78vs Loyola Marymount LionsNov 18
- W92-87at Sacramento State HornetsNov 12
Portland Pilots
Last 10: 5-5Streak L179.8 scored · 82.9 allowed per game0-3 away
- L69-94at Oregon DucksDec 18
- W88-78vs Kent State Golden FlashesDec 14
- W104-87vs Lewis & Clark River OttersDec 6
- L72-94at Stanford CardinalDec 2
- W93-73vs Long Beach State BeachNov 27
- L66-76vs St. Thomas TommiesNov 23
- L80-86vs Northern Colorado BearsNov 23
- W103-85vs Cal State Fullerton TitansNov 22
- L56-93at Wyoming CowboysNov 16
- W67-63vs UC Davis AggiesNov 9
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 31-4 | - | 16-2 |
| Saint Mary's | 27-6 | - | 16-2 |
| Santa Clara | 26-9 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Oregon State | 17-16 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Seattle U | 21-14 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Pacific | 18-15 | 8 | 8-10 |
| San Francisco | 17-16 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Washington State | 12-20 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Portland | 15-19 | 10 | 6-12 |
| San Diego | 12-21 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Pepperdine | 9-23 | 12 | 4-14 |
| UC Irvine | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Hawai'i | 24-9 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UC San Diego | 23-11 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 20-14 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 18-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| UC Davis | 19-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 18-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Cal Poly | 14-19 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Long Beach State | 10-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| UC Riverside | 10-22 | 10 | 5-15 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 8-24 | 13 | 2-18 |
Box score
| Stat | Portland Pilots | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-55 | 30-56 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 4-17 | 14-29 |
| Three-point % | 24 | 48 |
| Free throws | 7-11 | 5-9 |
| Free throw % | 64 | 56 |
| Rebounds | 30 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 22 |
| Assists | 11 | 23 |
| Steals | 4 | 10 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 18 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 30 |
| Fouls | 11 | 10 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 27 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 8 | 78 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half23-38Hosana Kitenge makes layup
- 2nd Half25-38James O'Donnell makes layup (Timo George assists)
- 2nd Half25-40Hosana Kitenge makes layup
- 2nd Half25-41Hosana Kitenge makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half26-41James O'Donnell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half27-41James O'Donnell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half27-44Aidan Mahaney makes 25-foot three point jumper (CJ Shaw assists)
- 2nd Half30-44Mikah Ballew makes 24-foot three point jumper (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half30-46Evans Kipruto makes layup (Zion Sensley assists)
- 2nd Half30-48Zion Sensley makes layup
- 2nd Half30-50Evans Kipruto makes 4-foot dunk (CJ Shaw assists)
- 2nd Half30-53Aidan Mahaney makes 24-foot three point jumper (CJ Shaw assists)
- 2nd Half32-53Cameron Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half32-56Aidan Mahaney makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half32-59Hosana Kitenge makes 25-foot three point jumper (Michael Simcoe assists)
- 2nd Half34-59Cameron Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half34-61Hosana Kitenge makes layup
- 2nd Half36-61Matúš Hronský makes layup (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half39-61Mikah Ballew makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half40-61Mikah Ballew makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half42-61Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes layup
- 2nd Half42-63Hosana Kitenge makes layup
- 2nd Half44-63Cameron Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half46-63Garrett Nuckolls makes layup
- 2nd Half46-65Colin Smith makes layup (Hosana Kitenge assists)
- 2nd Half46-66Colin Smith makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half47-66Timo George makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-66Timo George makes 2-foot dunk (Garrett Nuckolls assists)
- 2nd Half49-67Evans Kipruto makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-70Zachiah Clark makes 27-foot three point jumper (Colin Smith assists)
- 2nd Half49-73Zachiah Clark makes 27-foot three point jumper (CJ Shaw assists)
- 2nd Half51-73James O'Donnell makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half51-75Evans Kipruto makes layup (Michael Simcoe assists)
- 2nd Half53-75James O'Donnell makes 5-foot floating jump shot (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half56-75Garrett Nuckolls makes 24-foot three point jumper (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half58-75James O'Donnell makes layup (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half58-77CJ Shaw makes layup
- 2nd Half60-77James O'Donnell makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half60-79Michael Simcoe makes 16-foot turnaround jump shot (Luke Zuffelato assists)
- 2nd Half61-79James O'Donnell makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, below favours Portland Pilots.
Venue
- The ThunderdomeSanta Barbara, CA
- Attendance3022
- OfficialsDeron White, John St. Clair, De Selle Dean
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond