Matt Connolly

March 4, 2010

Powell Drills Free Throws to Sink UCI

By Matt Connolly

Big game James has done it again. Playing for the final time in the Thunderdome, senior guard James Powell hit a pair of clutch free throws with 14 seconds left to help UC Santa Barbara (18-9 overall, 12-4 in the Big Wes...

March 3, 2010

Senior Guards Say Goodbye

By Matt Connolly

Already having secured a first round bye in the Big West Tournament, the Gauchos head into tonight's regular season finale against UC Irvine with a new challenge: to clinch the conference crown and tournament #1 seed wit...

March 1, 2010

Cal Poly Shocks Santa Barbara

By Matt Connolly

All season long, the Gauchos have prided themselves in their ability to close out games. Unfortunately for UCSB on Saturday, an inability to make shots down the stretch and a crucial turnover in the final minute allowed ...

February 25, 2010

Gauchos Hold Off CSUN Rally

By Matt Connolly

Up by more than 20 points almost midway through the second half, the Gauchos had the game in the bag against Big West bottom-feeder Cal State Northridge -- or so they thought.

February 22, 2010

Bulldogs Downed in Dogfight

By Matt Connolly

Sophomore center Somogyi set a school record with eight blocked shots, and sophomore guard Orlando Johnson broke out for a game-high 23 points as visiting UC Santa Barbara (16-8 overall, 10-3 Big West) defeated Fresno St...

February 18, 2010

‘Chos Take Down Titans

By Matt Connolly

They were playing on the road, getting worked on the glass and couldn't buy a bucket from beyond the arc, but in the end, none of this even mattered. Led by a combined 36 points and 15 rebounds from sophomore swingmen Ja...

February 16, 2010

SB Settles Score With 49ers

By Matt Connolly

What a difference a month can make. After being blown out by 20 points in a meeting with Long Beach State back in mid-January, UC Santa Barbara (9-3 Big West, 14-8 overall) rebounded to split the season series in a dicey...

February 12, 2010

Gauchos Play Host to LBSU

By Matt Connolly

Though their last pair of games resulted in wins over Big West contenders Pacific and UC Davis, the Gauchos are not ready to celebrate just yet. On tap for UC Santa Barbara (13-8 overall, 8-3 Big West) this weekend is a ...

February 11, 2010

NBA All-Star Weekend

By Matt Connolly, John Greely

The Daily Nexus Sports Editors make their picks for this weekend's NBA All-Star festivities.

February 11, 2010

LEGENDS OF THE DOME

By Matt Connolly

Upcoming Honorees Mark French -- Head Coach ('87-'08) Women's Basketball vs. UC Riverside Thunderdome, Thursday @ 7 p.m. Brian Shaw -- Guard ('86-'88) Men's Basketball vs. Long Beach State Thunderdome, Saturday @ 4 p.m.

February 3, 2010

Who Will Win Super Bowl XLIV?

By Matt Connolly, Ravi Bhatia, Mark Bogard, Josh Greenberg

Who said fate wouldn't bring these two almost perfect teams together? In one corner, the perennial AFC Champion Colts, a team that has everything going for them except being from Indiana. In the other corner, the newly o...

February 2, 2010

SB Slips in Northridge

By Matt Connolly

With first place in conference within striking distance, UC Santa Barbara chose to live and die by the three at Cal State Northridge on Saturday. After converting only 10 of a season-high 34 attempts from beyond the arc,...

January 28, 2010

Cal Poly Heads Into Hostility

By Matt Connolly

The rivalry just got heated. With identical Big West records and sole possession of second place on the line, UC Santa Barbara (10-7 overall, 5-2 Big West) welcomes Cal Poly (8-10, 5-2) into the Thunderdome at 7 p.m. wit...

January 28, 2010

Men’s Basketball

By Matt Connolly

January 25, 2010

Gauchos Grab Big Victory

By Matt Connolly

In his first year with the Gauchos, sophomore guard Orlando Johnson has already established himself as one of the premier scorers in the Big West. After last night's win over Cal State Fullerton, it's about time to start...