Utah Valley Defeats UC Santa Barbara 68-53
Saturday, December 13, 2025, 2:00 PM ET · Delta Center
Utah Valley Wolverines 68, UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 53, 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 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs Utah Valley Wolverines?
Utah Valley Wolverines beat UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 68-53 at Delta Center on December 13, 2025.
Who was favored in UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs Utah Valley Wolverines?
Utah Valley Wolverines were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -245 (about 71% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Utah Valley Wolverines secured a solid victory over the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos with a final score of 68-53. This game, held at the Delta Center, showcased the Wolverines' strong home performance as they improved their record to 9-3, while the Gauchos fell to 8-4. Both teams entered the game with identical records of 8-3, making this contest a critical battle for positioning early in the season.
Utah Valley has been in good form recently, boasting a record of 7-3 in their last ten games, including a winning streak of two games leading into this matchup. They have averaged 82.2 points scored per game while allowing 65.7 points during this stretch. Their recent games included a narrow win against Idaho State, where they triumphed 73-69, and a more comfortable victory over Bowling Green, winning 82-71. At home, the Wolverines have been particularly strong, maintaining an unbeaten record of 5-0 this season.
On the other side, UC Santa Barbara has also shown impressive form, winning five consecutive games leading up to this encounter. Their recent performances have seen them average 83.6 points scored and 73.4 points allowed per game over their last ten outings. Their most recent victory was a commanding 109-84 win against Cal State Bakersfield. However, the Gauchos have faced challenges on the road, with a record of 2-1 away from home, which contrasts with their overall 6-1 home record.
In terms of previous meetings, this game marked another chapter in the competitive rivalry between the two programs, although specific historical results were not detailed in the provided block. The injury report was not mentioned, indicating that both teams likely fielded their strongest lineups for this important game.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Utah Valley favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 146.5. The Wolverines were given a moneyline of -245, while the Gauchos were listed at +200. These odds reflect the expectations of both teams' performances based on their recent form and the home-court advantage.
Game conditions were not detailed in the block, but typically, the atmosphere in the Delta Center is known to be electric, providing a significant boost to the home team. The Wolverines' ability to leverage their home court was evident as they executed their game plan effectively against the Gauchos.
As the game unfolded, Utah Valley established control early, maintaining a lead throughout the contest. Key scoring plays in the second half included a series of free throws and layups that helped secure their advantage. Colin Smith contributed crucial points for UC Santa Barbara, but it was not enough to overcome the Wolverines' defensive efforts and offensive execution.
Overall, this matchup highlighted Utah Valley's strength at home and their ability to perform under pressure, while UC Santa Barbara will look to regroup and address their challenges as they move forward in the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UVU -5.5 | 146.5 o -115 / u -105 | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos +200 · Utah Valley Wolverines -245 |
Leaders
- PointsHayden Welling18Utah Valley Wolverines
- AssistsTrevan Leonhardt10Utah Valley Wolverines
- ReboundsJackson Holcombe11Utah Valley Wolverines
- PointsColin Smith10UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
- AssistsCJ Shaw4UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
- ReboundsZion Sensley10UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Recent form
Utah Valley Wolverines
Last 10: 7-3Streak W282.2 scored · 65.7 allowed per game5-0 at home
- W73-69vs Idaho State BengalsDec 11
- W82-71at Bowling Green FalconsDec 6
- L66-77at San Diego State AztecsDec 4
- W89-45vs Samford BulldogsNov 26
- W75-52at South Dakota State JackrabbitsNov 25
- W79-72vs UC Irvine AnteatersNov 20
- L74-75at Fresno State BulldogsNov 16
- W91-60vs Westminster (UT) GriffinsNov 13
- L77-101at Boise State BroncosNov 8
- W116-35vs West Coast Baptist EaglesNov 5
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Last 10: 8-2Streak W583.6 scored · 73.4 allowed per game2-1 away
- 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
- W85-74vs San José State SpartansNov 8
- W98-67vs San Francisco State GatorsNov 5
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos | Utah Valley Wolverines |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 19-53 | 23-57 |
| Field goal % | 36 | 40 |
| Three-pointers | 3-13 | 8-22 |
| Three-point % | 23 | 36 |
| Free throws | 12-14 | 14-18 |
| Free throw % | 86 | 78 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 38 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 25 |
| Assists | 7 | 17 |
| Steals | 11 | 12 |
| Blocks | 3 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 28 |
| Fouls | 14 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 22 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 95 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half15-37Noah Taitz made Layup.
- 2nd Half17-37Zion Sensley made Layup.
- 2nd Half19-37Hosana Kitenge made Two Point Tip Shot.
- 2nd Half19-38Isaac Davis made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half22-38Colin Smith made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by CJ Shaw.
- 2nd Half22-39Jackson Holcombe made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half22-40Jackson Holcombe made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half23-40Aidan Mahaney made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half24-40Aidan Mahaney made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half24-42Jackson Holcombe made Jumper. Assisted by Trevan Leonhardt.
- 2nd Half27-42Marvin McGhee IV made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Colin Smith.
- 2nd Half27-43Noah Taitz made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half27-44Noah Taitz made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half29-44Aidan Mahaney made Layup.
- 2nd Half30-44Aidan Mahaney made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half32-44Zion Sensley made Jumper.
- 2nd Half32-47Hayden Welling made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Trevan Leonhardt.
- 2nd Half35-47Marvin McGhee IV made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by CJ Shaw.
- 2nd Half35-50Tyler Hendricks made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Trevan Leonhardt.
- 2nd Half35-52Trevan Leonhardt made Layup.
- 2nd Half37-52Evans Kipruto made Layup. Assisted by CJ Shaw.
- 2nd Half37-54Hayden Welling made Layup. Assisted by Isaac Davis.
- 2nd Half39-54Zachiah Clark made Layup.
- 2nd Half41-54CJ Shaw made Layup.
- 2nd Half43-54Zion Sensley made Jumper.
- 2nd Half43-56Tyler Hendricks made Jumper.
- 2nd Half45-56Koat Keat Tong made Layup. Assisted by CJ Shaw.
- 2nd Half45-58Isaac Davis made Dunk. Assisted by Noah Taitz.
- 2nd Half47-58Evans Kipruto made Jumper. Assisted by Aidan Mahaney.
- 2nd Half47-59Jackson Holcombe made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half47-60Jackson Holcombe made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half47-62Hayden Welling made Jumper.
- 2nd Half48-62Colin Smith made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half49-62Colin Smith made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half51-62Koat Keat Tong made Layup. Assisted by Aidan Mahaney.
- 2nd Half51-64Hayden Welling made Layup. Assisted by Trevan Leonhardt.
- 2nd Half51-66Trevan Leonhardt made Layup.
- 2nd Half51-67Trevan Leonhardt made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half51-68Trevan Leonhardt made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half53-68Colin Smith made Layup.
Win probability
Above the line favours Utah Valley Wolverines, below favours UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
Venue
- Delta CenterSalt Lake City, UT
- Attendance1987
- OfficialsChad Shepherd, Layne Barney, Wacey Lym
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