FORT MYERS, Fla. – UC Santa Barbara fought back from a nine-point second half deficit against Florida-Gulf Coast to force overtime when Alan Williams made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left, but didn't have enough left in the tank, dropping a thrilling 81-75 decision on Monday night.

The Gauchos (0-2) actually took a two-point lead twice in the second half, the last time when Michael Bryson drained a three-pointer from deep in the left corner with 1:43 left to make the score 60-58.

Brett Comer, who finished with 28 points and 11 assists, gave tied the score for the Eagles (2-0) on a driving lay-up down the middle of the lane. Another lay-up, by Nate Hicks, gave them a 62-60 lead with 40 second to play in regulation, but a slam-dunk put-back by Bryson tied the score again, 62-62, with 17 seconds on the clock.

Comer responded again, hitting a free throw line jumper with just over six second to play to make it 64-62. After a timeout, UCSB got the ball into Bryson who raced up the court, calling a timeout just after crossing midcourt. 

Following the timeout, the Gauchos worked the ball into Williams who flashed across the lane and was fouled on a short jumper by Hicks with 1.2 seconds to play. He made both free throws to send the game into the extra five-minute period with the score tied at 64 apiece.

John Green, who finished with a career-high 17 points before fouling out, made a pair of baskets to match the Eagles, who got two free throws from Hicks and another lay-up by Comer in the opening minutes of the overtime. 

With the score tied at 68-68 with 3:12 remaining, FGCU reeled off six straight points to claim a 74-68 edge with 1:01 on the clock. 

Freshman Gabe Vincent knocked-down a three-pointer from the left wing to close the gap to 74-71 with 58 seconds left, but a free throw by Comer and a pair by Demetris Morant stretched the advantage back to 77-71 at the 49-second mark.

Williams pulled UCSB within 77-73 when he made a lay-up with 31 seconds remaining and Eric Childress made 1-of-2 free throws four second later, making it 77-74 with 27 ticks left. But the Gauchos would get no closer an Comer put the finishing touches on with another lay-up in the closing seconds.

"This was a very good basketball game," said Gauchos' head coach Bob Williams. "I wish we could have knocked-down some of our open threes, and ultimately we will, but tonight we had to scrap for everything we got. That's a good basketball team (FGCU) over there, they're favored to win their league and there is a reason for that." 

Alan Williams had another superb game for UCSB. On the heels of a 22-point, 13-rebound, four blocked shot game at Kansas, he finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot against the Eagles. 

"Alan is a very special player and he showed that again tonight," Coach Williams said. "I would love to have given him some rest in the second half, and I probably should have, but it was just too tight and he's our guy." 

Green, who was playing in consecutive games for just the second time in his four seasons at UCSB, made 6-of-12 shots and added three rebounds to his career-high 17-point performance. 

"John is a very versatile player and tonight was just an indicator of what he is capable of," Coach Williams said. "As he gets more acclimated to playing, he is only going to get better and that's exciting." 

Bryson and Vincent each added 12 points for the Gauchos. For Vincent, it was a career-high. As a team, Santa Barbara continued to struggle with its outside shooting, making just 5-of-23 three-point attempts. In two games, the Gauchos are now 9-of-42 from outside the arc. 

"This is a good three-point shooting team," Coach Williams said of UCSB. "It doesn't look like that right now, but we really are and I'm sure by the end of the season that will be true."

Jamail Jones added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles, while Bernard Thompson had 13 points and seven rebounds. Comer's 11 assists added to his total of more than 600 in his career, the most of any active player in NCAA Division I. 

The Gauchos return for their first home game on Saturday, Nov. 22 when they host The Master's College in a 4:00 p.m. game at the Thunderdome. It will be a short stay in Santa Barbara, however, as they will leave on Tuesday, Nov. 25 for three games at the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Alaska, beginning with a  first round match-up against Washington State on Thanksgiving night. 

Season and single-game season tickets are available from the Ticket Office in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building on campus, by calling 805-893-UCSB (8272) or online by clicking here.