Sunday, January 31, 2010

UCSB loses to CSUN 76 - 69

The UCSB Men's basketball team lost to the Cal. State, Northridge Matadors 76 - 69 at the Matadome. The Gauchos (11 - 8, 6 - 3) were once again led by the tandem of James Nunnally and Orlando Johnson who scored 21 and 20 points, respectively. James Powell chipped in with 13 points, but the Gauchos shot poorly from the field, making only 33.3% of their shot attempts. Johnson led the Gauchos with eight rebounds and Nunnally added 6 boards.

The Matadors (8 - 13, 3 - 5) were led by Willie Galick's 19 points and nine rebounds. Rashaun McLemore and Mark Hill scored 14 and 10 points, respectively. Hill also dished out a game-high five assists for the victors. CSUN shot 42.6% from the field, and also out-rebounded the Gauchos 43 - 33.

The Gauchos will try to regain their winning ways when they travel to Stockton for a rematch with University of Pacific on Thursday, February 4. Game time is 7 pm.

Box Score

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Gauchos blow out SLO 80 - 57

The UCSB Men's basketball team trounced the Cal. Poly, San Luis Obispo Mustangs 80 - 57 in a Big West showdown at the Thunderdome. James Nunnally led the Gauchos (11 - 7, 6 - 2) with 20 points with Orlando Johnson adding 18 points, and Jamie Serna chipping in 12 points. Johnson also led the Gauchos with nine rebounds, while Sam Phippen contributed 5 rebounds off the bench. Nunnally also had a career-high five assists in the game.

However, it was the Gaucho defense that shined, forcing the Mustangs (8 - 11, 5 -3) into committing 21 turnovers. Will Brew and Jordan Weiner led the Gaucho defense with 3 steals each.

Lorenzo Keeler led the Mustangs with 20 points, while Will Taylor garnered five rebounds to lead the Mustangs in their defeat.

The Gauchos jumped out to a 38 - 18 first half lead, thanks to Nunnally's 17 first-half points. The Gauchos didn't let up in the second half, with Johnson scoring 11 of his points in the last half.

The Gauchos visit the Cal.-State, Northridge Matadors Saturday, January 30 at 7 pm.

Box Score

Monday, January 25, 2010

Carrick DeHart is honored as Legend of the Dome

Former UCSB Men's basketball player Carrick DeHart was introduced as a "Legend of the Dome" at halftime of the Gauchos' game against Cal. State, Fullerton. DeHart starred for the Gauchos from 1986 - 1990.

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012310aaa.html

Gauchos defeat CSF 85 - 80 in overtime

The UCSB Men's basketball team squeaked by the Cal. State, Fullerton Titans 85 - 80 in overtime in a Big West Conference game at the Thunderdome. Orlando Johnson drilled a clutch 3-point shot in regulation to tie the game and send it overtime. James Powell hit a couple of key baskets in overtime, including a 3-point shot to start play beyond regulation. Johnson led the Gauchos (10 - 7, 5 - 2) with 27 points, followed by James Nunnally with 25 points, and Powell with 14 points. Nunnally led the Gauchos with 10 rebounds, completing a double-double for him.

The Titans (8 - 10, 3 - 4) were led by Jer'Vaughn Johnson with 22 points and Devon Peltier's 21 points off the bench. Gerard Anderson led the Titans with 10 rebounds, while Aaron Thompson followed up with eight boards.

The Gauchos were forced to come back late in the second half after squandering a 51 - 35 lead with 14:59 left to play in regulation. The Titans managed to hold a 3-point lead until Johnson's last-second heroics tied the game 72 - 72 at the end of regulation. After Powell's 5-point barrage to start the overtime period, the Gauchos never relinquished the lead, finishing with Nunnally's dunk in the final seconds.

The Cal Poly SLO Mustangs visit the Thunderdome in another Big West contest with the Gauchos this Thursday, January 28 at 7 pm.

Box Score

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Legends of the Dome

The inaugural UCSB Men's basketball Legends of the Dome will be unveiled at Saturday's, January 23 game against Cal. State, Fullerton at the Thunderdome. Game time starts at 7 pm.

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/genrel/012010aaa.html

Monday, January 18, 2010

UCSB bounces back to defeat UCR 63 - 56

The UCSB Men's basketball team defeated UC-Riverside 63 - 56 in the Thunderdome to complete a regular season sweep of the Highlanders. The Gauchos (9 - 7, 4 - 2) were led by James Nunnally's 20 points, followed by Orlando Johnson's 16 points. Will Brew also contributed an important 11 points. Nunnally and Jaime Serna shared the team lead in rebounds with 7 each.

UCR (7 - 10, 1 - 4) was led by Kyle Austin's 25 points and Larry Gurganious' 7 rebounds.

Nunnally scored 16 of his points in a decisive second half, after Brew's 11 points helped the Gauchos build a 32 - 23 first half lead. But the Highlanders staged a furious second-half rally, briefly grabbing the lead, before the Gauchos closed the door on UCR late in the game.

The Cal. State, Fullerton Titans invade the Thunderdome next Saturday, January 23 at 7 pm.

Box Score

LBSU destroys the Gauchos 67 - 47

The Long Beach State 49ers overwhelmed the UCSB Men's basketball team 67 - 47 in a Big West match up at the Pyramid. The preseason favorite 49ers (8 - 9, 2 - 2) broke open a tight game in the second half, forcing the Gauchos (8 - 7, 3 - 2) into committing a season-high 29 turnovers. Orlando Johnson led an anemic Gaucho offense with 12 points, while Jaime Serna contributed seven rebounds.

LBSU was led by TJ Robinson's 19 points, followed by Casper Ware's 13 points. Robinson also led all players with 12 rebounds. The suffocating 49er defense limited the Gauchos to shooting 21.4% from the field in the second half, 32.7% for the game. At the other end, the 49ers shot 51.9% from the field in the decisive second half, 45.0% for the game.

But defense is how LBSU dominated the Gauchos in the second half.


Box Score

Monday, January 11, 2010

Gauchos win a squeaker over UOP

The UCSB Men's basketball team eked out a 68 - 67 home win over the University of Pacific Tigers in an afternoon game at the Thunderdome. The game ended with multiple controversies, as UOP was assessed two technical fouls. A questionable defensive goal-tending was called against UCSB (8 - 6, 3 - 1), while a pivotal offensive charge was called against UOP (9 - 6, 2 - 1) with 0.6 seconds left.

UCSB used a stifling defense to shut down UOP, building a 32 - 23 lead in the first half. UOP stormed back in the second half, using a fullcourt press to force the Gauchos into multiple turnovers. The Gauchos never relinquished the lead, but UOP kept things interesting by knocking down perimeter jumpers and creating points off of turnovers.

Orlando Johnson led the Gauchos with 24 points, followed by James Nunnally's 20 points. Johnson and Nunnally also led the Gauchos in rebounds, with seven and six, respectively. Johnson shot 7-of-9 from the field, including a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range.

Demetrece Young and Terrell Smith led the Tigers with 16 points apiece, while Joe Ford and Sam Willard shared the rebounding lead with seven boards each.

Tbe Gauchos hit the road for a game against the Long Beach State 49ers Thursday, January 14.

Box Score

Gauchos route the Aggies 68 - 47

The UCSB Men's basketball team pulled away in the second half to defeat UC-Davis 68 - 47 in a Big West game. The game was broadcast on ESPNU, as 4,282 fans rocked the Thunderdome. The Gauchos' (7 - 6, 2 - 1) aggressive defense stifled the Aggies (6 - 9, 2 - 1), limiting them to 21 points in the second half.

James Nunnally led four Gauchos in double figures with 17 points, followed by Jaime Serna's 14 points. Nunnally and Serna also led the Gauchos in rebounding with 8 and 5, respectively. Orlando Johnson dished out five assists to go with 12 points, while Jordan Weiner had an outstanding game off the bench with four assists and four steals.

Julian Welch led the Aggies with 12 points off the bench, followed by Joe Harden and Dominic Calegari with 11 points each. Calegari led the Ags with five boards.

Both teams played to a 26 - 26 tie in the first half, but the Gauchos pulled away in the second half with a stifling defense, which led to numerous fast-break baskets, including resounding dunks by Johnson, Nunnally, and Serna.

Box Score

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Gauchos rally to beat UCR 57 - 53

The UCSB Men's basketball team stormed back from a 23 - 14 first-half deficit to defeat the UCR Highlanders 57 - 53 in a Big West contest in Riverside. James Nunnally led the Gauchos (6 - 6, 1 - 1) with 19 points, followed by Orlando Johnson's 17 points. Nunnally also led the Gauchos with 10 rebounds followed by Greg Somogyi's 5 boards. However, it was Johnson's 3-pointer and free throws near the end of the game that sealed the win.

After scoring a season-low 14 points in the first half, the Gauchos launched a furious second-half rally, led by Somogyi's five blocked shots and altering of numerous other shots by the Highlanders (7 - 7, 1 - 1).

Kyle Austin scored a game-high 20 points for UCR, followed Rudy Meo's 15 points. Larry Gurganious had 9 rebounds, while Austin ended up with 8 boards.

The Gauchos host UC-Davis for another Big West matchup at the Thunderdome this Friday, January 8 in a game televised on the ESPNU network. Game time is 8 pm.

Box Score

Sunday, January 3, 2010

UCSB loses to UCI 57 - 55 in Big West opener

The UCSB Men's basketball team lost their Big West Conference season opener to UC-Irvine 57 - 55. The Gauchos (5 - 6, 0 - 1) were led once again by Orland Johnson's 19 points and eight rebounds. Jaime Serna followed up with a solid nine points and seven boards.

The Anteaters (7 - 6, 1 - 0) were led by Eric Wise's 21 points and Michael Hunter's 16 points. Adam Folker had 14 rebounds followed by Wise's seven boards. Hunter led UCI's first half surge with 13 points, helping the Anteaters build a 27 - 24 lead. Wise finished off the Gauchos with 17 points in the second half.

The Gauchos were marred by poor shooting from the perimeter, making only 2-of-12 shots from beyond the 3-point line.

The Gauchos travel to UC-Riverside to battle the Highlanders Monday, January 4 at 7 pm.

Box Score

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Gaucho Huddle in Berkeley

UCSB alumni and fans gathered at Looney's Smokehouse in Berkeley, CA after the Furman game in last week's Golden Bear Classic. Steve O'Brien, Associate Athletics Director, introduced Athletics Director Mark Massari, who in turn gave us a brief update on the Dare to Be Great campaign.

Massari summarized the drive to increase support for Gaucho student-athletes, including scholarships and facilities upgrades. Both Steve and Mark made the rounds, giving updates and receiving input on topics ranging from Gaucholocos marketing, baseball field upgrades and initiation of the new aquatics center project.

The highlight of the evening was Men's Basketball Head Coach Bob Williams's guest appearance, as he gave a quick update of the team. He mentioned the high integrity and character of his players, apparent to many casual on-lookers and fans alike. He expressed enthusiasm that the student-athlete UCSB attracts represents the university and alumni well, and encouraged fans to continue to support the intercollegiate sports programs. He reflected confidence that UCSB would be successful in attracting recruits. Facilities upgrades are key, as UCSB already enjoys a great academic reputation and an ideal campus locale.

All three reiterated their appreciation for the continued support of fans and alumni. Overall, it was a great night for Gaucho fans to mingle with other alumni and meet leaders of the UCSB Athletics department.

Cal rolls over UCSB 87 - 66 in Golden Bear Classic championship

The host University of California Golden Bears soundly defeated the UCSB Men's basketball team 87 - 66 in the championship game of the Golden Bear Classic. The Bears (8 - 4) combined deadly perimeter shooting with a powerful inside attack to put the game out of reach early in the first half.

The Gauchos (5 - 5) were led by Orlando Johnson's 17 points, while Greg Somogyi chipped in 12 points coming off the bench. Somogyi also led the Gauchos with eight rebounds with Johnson contributing seven boards. Somogyi disrupted the Bears' offense by blocking 3 shots and altering others, but the Bears used their bulk and size to dominate the boards 45 to 25, led by Sanders-Frison's ten rebounds.

Cal's Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle torched the Gauchos for 25 and 23 points, respectively, with many points coming from the perimeter.

The Gauchos commence Big West Conference play against the UC-Irvine Anteaters on Saturday, January 2 in Irvine, CA. Game time at the Bren Center is 7:00 pm.

Box Score

UCSB beats Furman 72 - 60 in Golden Bear Classic

The UCSB Men's basketball team pulled away from Furman in the second half to beat the Paladins 72 - 60 in the first round of the Golden Bear Classic in Berkeley, California. UCSB (5 - 4) was led by James Nunnally's career-high 24 points and Orlando Johnson's 21 points. Nunnally, Johnson, Will Brew, and Jaime Serna all had five rebounds, and Paul Roemer led the Gauchos with four assists and two steals, while disrupting Furman's (5 - 6) offensive possessions.

The Paladins were led by Paladins with 19 points while Amu Saaka added 16 points.

The Gauchos led 36 - 33 after the first half on the strength of shooting 7-of-9 behind the 3 point line. Despite missing all six 3-point shots in the second half, UCSB was able to pull away by taking the ball inside, hitting free throws, and locking down on the defensive end.