LOS ANGELES - The UC Santa Barbara Men's Basketball team (7-4, 0-2 Big West) got out to a fast start against the host, Loyola Marymount (LMU) Lions (6-4), but a defensive battle would ensue keeping the game close all night. A last second shot by Colin Smith missed the mark for the win and the Gauchos fell 60-58.

FROM HEAD COACH JOE PASTERNACK
"Our team competed hard tonight," said Pasternack. "However, it is very tough to win on the road with 14 turnovers. We will now get ready for Missouri State."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos came out scorching hot shooting the ball. The Blue and Gold opened the game on a 15-3 run. Four different Gauchos scored during the stretch with Jason Fontenet II and Stephan Swenson combing for 11 of the Gauchos 15 points. After the timeout the Lions settled in and got back in the game and ultimately tying it up at at the 7:41 mark. After tying it up at 19, both teams traded baskets and runs with four lead changes and two ties coming in the final seven minutes of the first half. After the first 20 it was LMU that took the lead to halftime, 33-30.

The Gauchos started the second half much like they did in the first opening up on an 11-0 run forcing LMU to take an early timeout. Four different Gauchos scored on the run with Kenny Pohto leading the way with four points during the stretch. Cole Anderson hit a three to open up the half and got the run started, just like in the first half. Again the Lions did not go away and took the lead at the 8:05 mark. From there the game became a defensive battle. LMU held the lead until Pohto made a layup just before the under four minute media timeout, but the Lions responded out of the break.

As the game ticked under the one minute mark, Pohto came up big again. After a missed layup by Fontenet II, Pohto was on the backside of the play and tipped the ball in to give the Gauchos the lead with 47 seconds remaining. On the ensuing Loyola Marymount possession a second chance effort changed the game. After securing an offensive rebound the Lions scored on a baseline out of bounds play to take the lead with 17 seconds remaining. Down by two, the Gauchos got an open look from three, but missed. Cole Anderson grabbed the offensive board and found an open Colin Smith on the wing who took another three for the win. Unfortunately the shot was off target and the Gauchos fell 60-58.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• The Gauchos limited the Lions leading scorer, Will Johnston to just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting from the floor.
• This was the Gauchos first loss against LMU since the 2020-21 season.
• UC Santa Barbara shot a season low two free throws and 13 three pointers. The Blue and Gold made both free throws and shot 46.2 percent from deep (6-of-13).
• The trio of Swenson, Fontenet II and Pohto combined for nine of the Gauchos 10 assists and scored 39 of their 58 total point.

UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara will continue on their road trip as they travel to Springfield, Missouri to take on Missouri State. The Gauchos and Bears will tip off at 11 a.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, Dec. 22. The game will be broadcasted through ESPN+ with live stats available thorough ucsbgauchos.com/MBBLiveStats.