Box Score BAKERSFIELD, Calif.– The Gaucho defense stepped up on the road for the UCSB men's basketball team which took down Cal State Bakersfield Thursday night 74-62. Freshman guard Ajay Mitchell went for a career-high 21 points and UCSB held CSUB to just 36.2% shooting in the team's second straight win.
ON THE STAT SHEET
- Mitchell's career-high came on 8-of-12 shooting with a 5-for-6 mark from the free throw line. He added three rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
- Another freshman guard in Cole Anderson was a go-to look for the Gauchos as he scored 18 off the bench going 4-for-5 from deep which matches his career-high for three-pointers made.
- Seniors Amadou Sow and Miles Norris led all players with six rebounds and Sow found 14 points on a potent 4-for-5 line from the field and 6-of-7 from the stripe.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half (36-24 UCSB)
- After a quiet first few minutes the two Big West foes began trading punches but the Gauchos' defense muscled up in the tough physical game allowing them to begin pulling away. They would hold the 'Runners to just 28.6% shooting and forced seven turnovers.
- Outscoring CSUB in the paint 18-8, UCSB began finding high-percentage buckets from Mitchell and Sow who had eight and seven points, respectively. The duo shot a collective 6-for-9 and Sow added four rebounds.
- The Gauchos had opportunities to blow the game wide open stretching lead out to as much as 14 but timely fouls in the Roadrunners' favor allowed the host team to keep within a dozen going into the half.
- Anderson came off the bench to score seven including one of the Gauchos' triples
Second Half (74-62 UCSB)
- The Gauchos came out and grew their lead to as much as 21 points in the second period thanks to a 66.7% shooting mark and 11 free throws.
- CSUB fought hard, continuing to play physical but could not get the game to within single digits shooting just 42.3% and making just one three in the entire game. In the end the two teams would have a wash in the half scoring 38 apiece.
- Anderson's hot hand continued in the second half as he poured in three more threes to tie his career-high with four made in the game.
UP NEXT
The Blue-Green rivalry is next for the Gauchos who head to Cal Poly Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 7 PM on ESPN+.
