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GAME NOTES: The Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara try to put even more distance between themselves and the rest of the Big West Conference as they challenge the Cal State Northridge Matadors at home in the Thunderdome tonight.

The Gauchos entered the week all alone atop the conference standings with a record of 10-3 and have four games remaining in the regular season in order to lay claim to the top spot overall. UCSB is currently riding a five-game win streak and has taken eight of the last nine overall, the one exception during that run being the team's 76-69 setback to these same Matadors on the road last month. On Saturday, the team dismissed Fresno State in a non-conference meeting at the Save Mart Center, 64-60.

As for the Matadors, a group that is two games under .500 in league play (5-7) and just 10-17 overall in 2009-10, their 90-80 setback to Drake over the weekend marked their fourth loss in five games. However, as poorly as CSUN has played in the last few weeks, the fact remains that it has won four in a row in this series, even though it still trails the Gauchos all-time by a sizeable 27-13 margin.

Lenny Daniel registered a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday, but it wasn't nearly enough as the Matadors bowed to Drake at home. Kenny Daniels added 15 points and six assists off the bench, Raymond Cody and Therin Taylor tallied 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the team suffered 17 turnovers in a meeting that saw five ties and 12 lead changes before it was all over. Daniels, a 50.4 percent shooter from the field, leads the team in scoring with 14.8 ppg while Daniel accounts for 11.8 ppg and is first on the glass with 7.6 rpg. Cal State Northridge is scoring a solid 72.1 ppg this season, the only problem is the defense is giving up a hefty 75.7 ppg at the same time.

The Gauchos had only one player register more than three field goals and that was Orlando Johnson who finished with a game-high 23 points in the win over Fresno State on Saturday night. Johnson knocked down 9-of-16 from the floor, matching the number of made baskets by the other four starters for UCSB. James Powell came off the bench to offer up 10 points and deliver three of the group's 12 assists in his 15 minutes of work. One of the most productive scorers in the Big West this season, Johnson is credited with 17.8 ppg as he shoots close to 50 percent from the field and 39 percent behind the three- point line. Along with James Nunnally (14.8 ppg), Johnson is also clearing 5.5 rpg in an effort to keep the squad competitive on the glass.

Everything is working in favor of the Gauchos in this meeting, from playing at home in a revenge game to fighting for top billing in the Big West, so it only makes sense to take UCSB tonight.