This Time, Las Vegas Routs UC Santa Barbara, 77-61

UC Santa Barbara, which upset Nevada Las Vegas twice last season, was no match for the Rebels Monday night in the Thomas and Mack Center at Las Vegas.

David Butler scored 21 points and Greg Anthony added 19 to lead 19th-ranked Las Vegas to a 77-61 Big West Conference basketball victory.

The Rebels led only 7-6 after 5 minutes, but then outscored Santa Barbara, 13-0, over the next 4 minutes to gain a 20-6 lead.

They gained a 37-24 halftime lead behind Anthony’s 14 points. Santa Barbara, led by Mike Doyle’s 17 points and Carrick DeHart’s 13, could pull no closer in the second half than the final margin.

Las Vegas is 15-5 overall, 10-1 in Big West play.

Santa Barbara (15-4, 6-4) fell 3 1/2 games behind the Rebels and a half game behind second-place New Mexico State (7-4).

Las Vegas opened the second half with strong shooting and quickly took control.

The Rebels held a 49-29 lead with 15:30 left as Las Vegas shot 63% and Santa Barbara shot a dismal 33%.

Both teams settled down, but Las Vegas held its 20-point margin with Stacey Augmon and George Ackles controlling the tempo. Ackles’ inside defense frustrated Santa Barbara’s penetrating offense. He had four blocked shots midway through the second half.

So, the Gauchos tried to go outside, but Las Vegas’ tough defense denied them good shots.

The Rebels built their biggest lead, 71-47, on Butler’s dunk late in the game. But Doyle made three quick baskets and Gary Gray added a jumper to pull the Gauchos within 71-55.