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GAME NOTES: The Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara try to remain atop the Big West Conference standings as they host the Long Beach State 49ers at the Thunderdome.

The Gauchos have won two straight and five of their last six outings to give them an 8-3 record in league play, which means they entered the weekend tied with the Pacific Tigers for first place in the Big West standings. A week ago, the squad posted its second consecutive road victory with an 81-77 triumph over UC Davis.

As for the 49ers, one of three teams tied for third place in the BWC with six wins and five losses, they too have won back-to-back contests and have taken four of their last five decisions, thanks to a 78-72 victory on Thursday night on the road at Cal Poly.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, LBSU is ahead of the Gauchos by a scant 54-52 margin, thanks to a 67-47 blowout win in the first meeting last month.

Somehow the 49ers managed to work through 17 turnovers and just 15-of-25 shooting at the free-throw line in order to come up with the six-point road win against Cal Poly two nights ago. Eugene Phelps scored a team-best 15 points, while T.J. Robinson, Stephan Gilling and Greg Plater all tallied 14 points and Casper Ware 10 in the triumph. Handling the glass was Robinson with his 11 boards, five of which were at the offensive end of the floor. Overall this season, Robinson is averaging a double-double for the program with his 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per outing, shooting an impressive 50.8 percent from the floor in an effort to offset his mere 57.4 percent at the free-throw line. Anderson (12.5 ppg) and Ware (11.3 ppg) also lend a hand offensively, with the latter responsible for more than five assists per game to keep his teammates involved in the action.

The Gauchos shot a healthy 58 percent from the field last weekend and a staggering 11-of-17 behind the three-point line, yet they still beat UC Davis by a mere four points on the road. James Nunnally accounted for a team-best 24 points, cleared six rebounds and handed out four assists, while Orlando Johnson chipped in 15 points, followed by Jordan Weiner and Will Brew with 11 points apiece. Justin Joyner made a splash off the bench as he handed out eight assists in just 15 minutes of action. Nunnally, the leading scorer in three of the last four games for UCSB, has closed the gap between he and Johnson on the scoring list, with Nunnally putting up 15.3 ppg and Johnson going for 17.8 ppg through 21 contests. Both players are shooting better than 48.0 percent from the floor and have combined for 69 three-point baskets, not to mention almost 11 rebounds per game between them.

Not only are the Gauchos at home for this game, they also have the added factor of revenge with one of their three conference losses coming against LBSU last month.