Dec. 6, 2007

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Utah Valley will have its hands full as the Wolverines will face off against the preseason Big West favorite UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Friday evening at 8 p.m. (MT)

UCSB has won six consecutive games and are off to their best start in 15 years with an 8-1 record. The Wolverines will be looking to put an end to a three-game skid, its first losing streak in over a year.

"Santa Barbara is the best shooting team we've faced thus far this season," UV head coach Dick Hunsaker said. "They have the potential Big West MVP in (Alex) Harris. They are a very experienced and cohesive unit."

Harris leads UCSB averaging 23.6 points per game while fellow preseason All-Big West selection Chris Devine averages 13 points per game. The Wolverines are led by Ryan Toolson's 19.6 points per game.

The game can be heard live on AM 1400 KSTAR with Steve Watts calling the play-by-play action. The game will also be carried live and archived on the Internet at www.WolverineGreen.com.

Utah Valley returns home as the Wolverines will face a team in a second game for the first time this year. UV will welcome WAC foe Boise State to the McKay Center on Thursday evening.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Wolverines will then play a pair of in-state road games against Southern Utah (Dec. 15) and Utah State (Dec. 20).