Loyola Marymount vs. UC Santa Barbara Picks and Prediction for Monday, November 17, 2025
Use Code WWWC Loyola Marymount Lions (5-0) vs. UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (3-0)
Week 3 of the 2025-26 college basketball season starts Monday, November 17, and in this preview, we are breaking down the non-conference showdown from The Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, CA, to bring you the Loyola Marymount vs. UC Santa Barbara prediction.
The Lions meet the Gauchos for the third straight season. Two years ago, UC Santa Barbara beat Loyola Marymount 68-59 as a 3.5-point dog at the neutral site, while the Lions outlasted the Gauchos 60-58 as 2.5-point home favorites last season.
Read more about this Loyola Marymount vs. UC Santa Barbara prediction, and make sure to check out all our NCAAB picks for Monday’s slate. The tip-off at The Thunderdome is set at 9:00 PM ET.
Loyola Marymount is on a roll
The Loyola Marymount Lions (5-0; 3-1 ATS; 1-3 O/U) played three home games in the opening week, beating Lincoln University (CA) 137-54, Eastern Washington 70-62, and Arkansas Pine-Bluff 94-72 in the process.
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In Week 2, the Lions beat UTEP 71-58 on the road and Troy 74-63 at home. They held the Miners to 35.1% shooting from the field and forced the Trojans into 20 turnovers. The Lions lean on their defense, allowing 103.2 points per 100 possessions (106th in the country) on 37.7% shooting from the field (57th).
On the other side of the ball, Loyola Marymount tallies 108.3 points per 100 possessions (122nd). The Lions make 41.2% of their 3-pointers (27th) and 56.7% of their 2-pointers (80th). Junior guard Rodney Brown is the team’s leading scorer with 16.2 points per game, while fellow junior G Jan Vide averages 15.2 points and 6.0 assists.
UC Santa Barbara is undefeated, too
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (3-0; 1-1 ATS; 2-0 O/U) played a couple of home games in the opening week. They beat San Francisco State 98-67 and San Jose State 85-74. In Week 2, the Gauchos took the floor just once, outlasting Sacramento State 92-87 as 7.5-point road favorites this past Tuesday.
UC Santa Barbara made 52.5% of its field goals (13-for-27 from deep) at Hornet Pavilion in Sacramento. Four Gauchos scored in double digits, and junior guard Miro Little led the charge with 17 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals.
Little tallies 13.3 points, 6.7 boards, and 5.7 assists per game, while senior forward Colin Smith posts 18.0 points and 4.7 boards per contest. The Gauchos score 113.5 points per 100 possessions (62nd in the nation) and yield 108.2 points in return (201st). They are fourth in the country in 3-point percentage (49.0%).
Loyola Marymount vs. UC Santa Barbara Pick
Spread Pick for Loyola Marymount vs. UC Santa Barbara
- Loyola Marymount (4 units)
The Gauchos look like a very dangerous offensive team. Alongside Miro Little and Colin Smith, you will see a former Saint Mary’s Gael Aidan Mahaney (14.3 PPG). Their offense will be properly tested in this matchup, given the way the Lions have been playing.
I like Loyola Marymount’s chances. The Lions force their rivals inside the arc (58th in the country in 3-point rate) and hold them to a 43.6 2P% (41st). Their length and aggressiveness should cause a lot of problems, and the Lions certainly have enough offensive weapons to keep it close against the Gauchos, who are 308th in opposing 2-point percentage (59.2%) and 319th in opposing 3-point percentage (39.5%).
Over/Under Pick for Loyola Marymount vs. UC Santa Barbara
- Under (4 units)
The Gauchos lean on their offense, but they don’t play at a fast pace. UC Santa Barbara registers 68.1 possessions per 40 minutes (322nd in the country), while Loyola Marymount records 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes (277th).
Hereof, give me the under on the total. I’m backing the Lions because of their defense. Also, Loyola Marymount is a solid rebounding team and should keep the Gauchos off the glass. Limiting the Gauchos’ second-chance points might be key for the Lions.
Three of the last four encounters between Loyola Marymount and UC Santa Barbara have gone under the total.
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