Ag basketball gouge Gouchos
With a 74-67 victory against the Big West preseason favorite UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, Utah State’s men’s basketball team was able to extend their win-streak to seven Friday night in Santa Barbara.
With the win, the Aggies improved to 10-1 on the season, 2-0 in conference play; UCSB dropped to 7-5 and 1-2 in the Big West.
In their first major road trip of the season, the Aggies rose to the challenge of playing a major conference competitor in a Thunderdome filled with almost 4,300 Gaucho fans. Their furthest road trip of the year prior to Thursday’s game had been only 103 miles to Pocatello, Idaho,
Prior to the game’s start, UCSB Head Coach Bob Williams labeled the matchup “a big game” against what he called “Stew [Morrill’s] best team in the last three years.”
After the game, Morrill failed to echo Williams’ sentiment, saying, “This is only the second game of the season. We have 18 more to go. There are a lot of games left to be played.”
Down six points in the final minutes of the game, the Ags rallied with a 17-4 run to close the game, fueled largely by 15 Spencer Nelson second-half points.
Nelson, who was held scoreless in the first half, scored nine straight points, including a three-point field goal to put the Gauchos away.
“This is why you play college basketball,” said USU senior guard Mark Brown, who finished the game with five points and two rebounds.
For Santa Barbara, last year’s BWC Player of the Year Branduinn Fullove lead the way with 19 points and five rebounds.
Casey Cook, who came into the game leading the Gauchos in scoring, was held to only four points and two rebounds.
Both teams recieved good production from their benches.
Junior guard Joe See provided a big second half spark for the Gauchos hitting, five from behind the arc and finishing with 15 points.
Cameron Goettsche also hit for 10 points, giving UCSB a total of 38 off the bench.
Off the bench for the Aggies, Nate Harris scored six points and pulled down six rebounds.
John Neil and Chris Huber had six and five points respectively.
“These two teams have the best benches in the league,” Williams said.
On the glass, the Aggies, one of the top teams in the nation in rebounding margin (+10.1), were outrebounded by UCSB 29-22, 13-10 on the offensive glass. Center Mike Ahmad, while scoring nine points, only managed to grab three rebounds.
However, any advantage the Gauchos may have had in rebounds was squandered away in the form of 14 turnovers, nine of which came in the first half.
Senior Cardell Butler, who was recently named USU Athlete of the Week for the third consecutive week, led the Aggies with 18 points, two rebounds and two assists. Butler came into the game averaging 14.8 points and 2.6 rebounds a night.
Forward Jason Williams also came through for the Ags, scoring 10 point and pulling down two rebounds.
“He’s really settled down,” Morrill said of Williams. “He looked like he belonged tonight.”
The victory avenged USU’s last year 62-50 defeat in the Thunderdome, a game Fullove dominated with 21 points. Utah State leads the series 33-22, and holds a 13-12 edge over games played in Santa Barbara.
The Ags now turn their focus to Cal Poly (6-5, 1-2) who is coming off an 87-63 victory over Idaho.
“Even though they’ve dropped a couple on the road, we’re not playing them at our place,” Morrill said, ” We’re playing at their place, where they have been awfully good.”
The Aggies will travel to San Luis Obispo, Calif. where they will have a road practice before embarking on there first Saturday night road game.
“It’s nice to be in a position to get a sweep on the road,” Morrill said, “instead of worrying about just getting a split.”
-acf@cc.usu.edu