PCAA Roundup : Las Vegas Survives Santa Barbara Rally

Armon Gilliam scored 27 points, including 14 during a second-half spurt that lifted top-ranked Nevada Las Vegas to an 86-76 victory over UC Santa Barbara Saturday night in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game at Las Vegas.

The Rebels (26-1 overall, 13-0) led, 56-40, in the early minutes of the second half, but the Gauchos (11-10, 6-6) came alive behind three three-point baskets by Carrick DeHart. Santa Barbara outscored the Rebels, 17-3, over a five-minute span to pull within 61-59 with nine minutes left.

That’s when Gilliam took over, hitting four jumpers as the Rebels held on at 69-65 with three minutes left. Gerald Paddio, who added 17 points, and Freddie Banks, who had 13, each hit three-point baskets as the Rebels held on.

Khris Fortson scored 20 points, Brian Johnson added 13 and Brian Shaw 12 for the Gauchos.

The Rebels led, 41-33, at halftime after trailing by as many as six points in the first 13 minutes of the game.

Utah State 91, San Jose State 86--Reid Newey scored 23 points, and the Aggies scored the first eight points of overtime to turn back the Spartans at Logan, Utah.

Kevin Nixon had 5 of his 22 points in overtime, helping the Aggies (13-12, 6-7) win after squandering an 18-point lead. San Jose (11-12, 7-7) didn’t score in overtime until Dwaine Daniels hit a three-point shot with two seconds left.

Ricky Berry scored 22 points for the Spartans before fouling out late in regulation.

Fresno State 68, Cal State Long Beach 67--Rene Ebeltjes followed in a missed shot with four seconds left in overtime to give Bulldogs a victory over the 49ers at Fresno.

The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Bulldogs (8-16, 3-10).

Long Beach (12-14, 7-7) had a 16-2 lead six minutes into the game, but the Bulldogs outscored the 49ers, 31-12, to take a 33-28 halftime lead.

Morlon Wiley had 19 points and 10 assists for Long Beach.

New Mexico State 78, Pacific 64--Kenny Travis scored 22 points and Keith Hill added 20 to lead the Aggies past the Tigers at Stockton.

Pacific (10-13, 6-8) had a 29-22 halftime lead, but the Aggies (13-12, 7-7) made 67% of their shots in the second half and scored 56 points to gain command.

Pacific’s Brent Counts had 27 points.