PCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Santa Barbara Gets a Boost in 56-52 Win

It wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t pretty, but UC Santa Barbara took another step toward a spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament Thursday night with a 56-52 victory over New Mexico State.

The win in the quarterfinals of the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. tournament at the Forum boosted the Gauchos’ overall record to 22-6.

“I think we’re in good shape on the NCAA tourney, but you never know,” Gaucho Coach Jerry Pimm said. “Every win helps.”

New Mexico State, which finished the season 16-16, used an aggressive matchup zone to frustrate the Gauchos all evening. The Aggies were in the game when Coach Neil McCarthy was whistled for a technical foul with 1:38 remaining and Santa Barbara leading, 52-47. Mike Doyle, who scored 13 points, made both free throws.

The lead held up, but Santa Barbara kept the Aggies in the game by making just 2 of 6 free throws down the stretch.

The Aggies had a three-point lead midway through the second half when Brian Shaw, PCAA player of the year, took charge. Shaw, the only other Gaucho in double figures with 13 points, scored on a short turnaround jumper, a follow shot and a three-pointer and dished out two assists in a 1 1/2-minute stretch that put Santa Barbara up by 6 points, 48-42, with 6:53 to play.

“When you’ve got the best player in the league, you’ve got to call on him,” Pimm said. “And we’ve called on him all year.”

The Aggies also had just two players score in double figures--Keith Hill and Johnny Roberson scored 10 apiece.

“We finished the season in characteristic style,” McCarthy said. “We play great for 37 minutes, but we don’t play well in the last 3. We’ve now lost 13 games by 5 points or less and when you lose so many close ones, it really works on a team’s confidence when the game’s on the line.”

This one wasn’t a big confidence-builder for Santa Barbara, either. But it was one more win to impress the NCAA selection committee.