Overview:
Men’s contest will pit two of last year’s NCAA Tournament teams
UC Santa Barbara will play host to a basketball doubleheader on Wednesday at the Thunderdome with both a Gaucho Toy Drive and a First Responders Night.
Fans are encouraged to bring an unused/unopened toy when the Gaucho women (5-4) play host to Life Pacific (9-2) at 2 p.m.
Those fans donating a toy at the game will receive a ticket voucher for UCSB’s Big West Conference women’s basketball opener against UC Davis on Dec. 28.
The UCSB men (6-3) will cap Wednesday’s doubleheader with a 7 p.m. game against Howard University (4-8), which won an NCAA Tournament bid last year as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion.
All first responders will receive a free ticket to the game. Those unable to claim their tickets beforehand can gain admittance by showing their first responder’s identification at the Thunderdome ticket booth.
“The students are gone for winter break so we really need the community to step up to help us honor our first responders,” Gaucho coach Joe Pasternack said. “More than just cheering the Gauchos, we encourage our fans to come and give our first responders a round of applause for what they do for our community.
“John Thyne of One805 is supporting us in this event.”
One805 was formed as a support group for the area’s first responders after the Montecito Mudflow. The tragedy of Jan. 9, 2018 claimed 23 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes.
