The bad zulu continues.

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The University of Hawaiʻi Men's Basketball team began the 2025 calendar year with another conference loss to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on Thursday, 64-61, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

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Tanner Christensen led UH with 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Gytis Nemeikša was next in line with 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Ryan Rapp poured in 10 of his own all in the second half.

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Santa Barbara was led by Stephan Swenson's 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting and a game-high seven assists. Deuce Turner and Jason Fontanet II poured in 10 each of their own. No Gaucho had more than five rebounds.

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The 'Bows and Gauchos began the contest neck and neck. Both teams traded the lead several times, but the Gauchos were the first to hit their stride.

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UCSB used five made triples to UH's three to take as much as a six-point lead. Both teams were in close proximity, as UH still stormed back into their neighborhood.

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By halftime, UCSB had a scant 31-28 lead with UH's Christensen leading all players with 10 points.

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UH's Marcus Greene began the second half with a layup to put UH down just one. It was not long before troubles came for UH.

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After a Rapp layup with 17:55 remaining, UH was held to just two made Rapp free throws and went scoreless for over six minutes while UCSB went on a 15-0 run to retake the lead and never surrender it.

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The Gauchos made three triples in the second half while the 'Bows went 0-for-5 altogether.

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Now down by as many as 13, UH did not quit. Towards the end, they went on a 14-4 run to close the game, but Nemeikša's desperation triple at the buzzer just missed the rim, and UH walked away the losers against UCSB for the sixth time in a row.

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UH falls to 0-2 in Big West play and 8-5 overall while UCSB improves to 1-2 in Big West play. UH will return to the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday, Jan. 4 against the Cal Poly Mustangs at 7 pm HST. You can listen to the game on ESPN Honolulu or watch the game on Spectrum Sports.