Sports Highlights: Dec. 3-8
UCSB Challenges Pac-12's UCLA and Cal
UCSB’s last basketball game against UCLA was memorable for the Gauchos, who scored a 61-60 victory at Pauley Pavilion, ending the Bruins’ 18-game winning streak in their series. It happened in December, 2003, early in Ben Howland’s first season as UCLA’s coach.
Tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 3), the Gauchos return to Pauley Pavilion to take on the 18th-ranked Bruins, who are off to a 7-0 start in Steve Alford’s first year as their coach. UCSB is 3-2, but junior forward Alan Williams missed the two defeats because of back spasms. He returned to action last Friday and had 39 points, nine rebounds, and eight blocked shots against South Dakota State.
The 8 p.m. game will be televised on the Pac-12 network.
The Gauchos will host another Pac-12 team, the Cal Golden Bears, on Friday night.
Three women’s volleyball teams are playing in the postseason this week. SBCC travels to No. 1 Irvine Valley in the Southern Cal Regional final Tuesday; Westmont College is competing in the NAIA Championships at Sioux City, Iowa; and UCSB visits No. 9 San Diego in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday night. Westmont advanced in the NAIA Women’s Soccer Championships in Alabama on Monday with a 2-0 victory over Martin Methodist (Tenn.).
The prep winter sports season begins with several soccer matches this week.
COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, 12/3: Men’s basketball: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Westmont, 7:30 pm; UCSB at UCLA, 8 pm. Women’s basketball – UCSB at Pepperdine, 7 pm. Women’s volleyball – Southern Cal Regional: SBCC at Irvine Valley, 6 pm. Westmont at NAIA Championships, Sioux City, Iowa.
Wednesday, 12/4: Men’s basketball – L.A. Valley at SBCC, 7 pm. Women’s volleyball – Westmont at NAIA Championships, Sioux City, Iowa. Women’s soccer – Westmont at NAIA Championships, Orange Beach, Alabama.
Thursday, 12/5: Women’s basketball – Northern Arizona at UCSB, 7 pm. Women’s volleyball – Westmont at NAIA Championships, Sioux City, Iowa. Women’s soccer – Westmont at NAIA Championships, Orange Beach, Alabama.
Friday, 12/6: Men’s basketball – California at UCSB, 7 pm. Bethesda at Westmont, 7:30 pm. Women’s volleyball – NCAA tournament: UCSB at San Diego, 7:30 pm. Women’s soccer – Westmont at NAIA Championships, Orange Beach, Alabama.
Saturday, 12/7: Men’s basketball – Bakersfield at SBCC, 5 pm. UC Merced at Westmont, 7:30 pm. Women’s soccer – Westmont at NAIA Championships, Orange Beach, Alabama.
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, 12/3: Girls soccer – Pacifica at San Marcos, 5 pm.
Wednesday, 12/4: Boys soccer – Santa Paula at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 pm; San Marcos at Cate, 3:15 pm.
Thursday, 12/5: Girls soccer – Bishop Diego at Laguna Blanca, 3 pm; Moorpark at Santa Barbara, 5 pm. Wrestling – Channel League Novices at Santa Barbara, 4 pm.
RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING
Information for most events: sbrunning.org.
DECEMBER: 8 – Santa Claus 5K & Mile Fun Run, La Cumbre Plaza. sbactionpro.com.14 – Elings Park Terrain Festival. ElingsTerrain.com.