DAVIS, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Men's Basketball team (6-3, 0-2 Big West) dropped their first road Big West contest of the season Saturday night, 71-60. Stephan Swenson and Kenny Pohto led the team scoring 16 a piece. Pohto also finished just one rebound shy of a double-double.
FROM HEAD COACH JOE PASTERNACK
"UC Davis played really well and the credit goes to them," said Pasternack. "Our focus is now on Green Bay, we will get back and get ready for them next Saturday."
HOW IT HAPPENED
After securing the opening tip the Aggies got out to a fast start over the Gauchos opening the game on a 10-3 run. After that the game went stagnant for over four minutes. Neither side found the bottom of the bucket for that stretch until Stephan Swenson hit his first three of the game. From there it would be back and forth for a bit with the Aggies maintaining their lead. UC Santa Barbara started to find their rhythm with about six minutes left in the half and went on an 8-0 run and ultimately tied the game at 18-all after another Swenson three. The Gauchos and Aggies again traded baskets until the end of the first 20 minutes and the teams wen to the intermission deadlocked at 28 a side.
The game stayed tight as neither side was able to put together a scoring run. The Gauchos and Aggies, through the first 12 minutes of the second half saw three ties and two lead changes. The Aggies ultimately built their lead up to six as the under eight timeout was called, tying their largest lead of the half. After the under eight, but defenses dug their heals in and both sides went into a scoring drought. UC Santa Barbara cut the lead to one possession after Jason Fontenet II hit two free throws. Again the game turned into a back-and-forth affair, the Gauchos cut the lead to four a couple times after Kenny Pohto made a few baskets down low. Down the stretch UC Santa Barbara was unable to get the stop they needed and ended up falling 71-60.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
- For the first time in the last five games, the Gauchos shot under 50 percent from the floor.
- In six of the last seven games, Stephan Swenson has made multiple three-points shots and has made 11 over the last two.
- Kenny Pohto nearly finished with his third double-double of the season, finishing a rebound shy.
- Deuce Turner continues to be electrifying off the bench as he has now scored in double figures in five of the Gauchos nine games.
UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara will return to The Thunderdome to host UW - Green Bay on Saturday, Dec. 14. The Gauchos and Phoenix will tip off at 4 p.m. For those unable to attend in person, the game will be streamed through ESPN+.
