UC Santa Barbara Handles Titans Without Trouble

UC Santa Barbara controlled the tempo for much of the game and complemented its inside game with an effective fast break to defeat Cal State Fullerton, 76-55, in a Big West Conference game played before 3,438 in the Events Center on Thursday night.

Lucius Davis scored 19 points, Gary Gray had 17 and Michael Meyer scored 13 as a substitute to help the Gauchos improve to 9-7, 4-4 in the conference. Santa Barbara made 27 of 46 shots (58.7%).

Joe Small scored 15 points and Wayne Williams added 14 for Fullerton, which shot 36.5% (19 for 52) and dropped to 11-7, 4-5.

The game was delayed with 12:07 to play in the first half for about five minutes after a bomb threat that proved to be a hoax.

The Gauchos had scored four consecutive points to take a 16-9 lead at the time. When play resumed, Santa Barbara maintained the momentum, scoring the next five points to take a 21-9 lead.

Fullerton pulled to within five points twice in the second half, the last time on Williams’ three-point basket with 9:06 remaining that made it 50-45.

The Titans twice had chances to cut the deficit to three, but Agee Ward missed two free throws and then the front end of a one-and-one situation. Fullerton made only four of nine free throws in the final 8:13.

From that point, the Gauchos took control, outscoring Fullerton, 26-10, the rest of the way. Santa Barbara scored five fast-break baskets in the final 6:30, and Gaucho reserves outscored the Fullerton starters, 6-2, in the final minute.