Dec. 29, 2007

Box Score

CHENEY, Wash. (AP) -- Alex Harris scored eight of his team-high 18 points in the final 6:13, helping UC Santa Barbara hold off Eastern Washington 58-51 in a nonconference game Saturday night.

Ivan Elliott added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Gauchos (11-2) of the Big West Conference.

Kellen Williams had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles (6-9) of the Big Sky.

A Harris 3-pointer from the wing -- Santa Barbara's final field goal of the game -- pushed the Gauchos' lead to 52-43 before EWU made a late surge. A putback by Williams pulled Eastern within 54-50 with 3:36 left.

Santa Barbara held EWU to just a single point the rest of the way.

In the first half, Williams' 3-pointer gave Eastern its biggest lead, 20-15, with 8:12 left. UCSB answered with a 15-3 burst, sparked by Elliott's basket in the lane and finished by Harris' inside move that put the Gauchos up 30-23 with 1:20 left in the half.

Santa Barbara led the rest of the way.

Trey Gross added 11 points and Gary Gibson seven assists for the cold-shooting Eagles, who managed just 19-of-59 from the floor. For Williams, who hit 9-of-15 from the field, it was his seventh double-double of the season.

Harris entered the game averaging 22.8 points per game for the Gauchos, who had won eight straight prior to their Dec. 22 loss to No. 1 North Carolina.