November 12, 2004

Nov. 12, 2004

Box Score

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Michael Chambers scored 19 points and four others scored in double-figures, leading UC Santa Barbara to a 78-60 exhibition win over visiting Westmont College Friday night at the Thunderdome.

The Gauchos, playing with just eight players due to a rash of early-season injuries, fell behind by five early in the first half, but Chambers' three-point basket with 6:06 remaining gave them a lead, 20-17, and they never trailed again. The three-pointer began a 14-6 UCSB run to end the first half and the Gauchos led at the break, 31-23.

UCSB scored the first five points of the second half on a lay-up by Josh Davis and a three-pointer by Joe See to take a commanding 36-23 edge. The lead never dropped below 11 the rest of the way and the game-ending 18-point advantage was the largest.

The Gauchos played the game without starting guard Cecil Brown (partially torn medial collateral ligament), starting forward Cameron Goettsche (strained groin muscle), and reserve forwards Glenn Turner (ankle sprain), David Kennedy (right leg injury), Chris Devine (left knee injury), and Todd Follmer (probable freshman redshirt).

Senior Casey Cook, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots, was the only frontcourt regular to suit-up. Davis, expected to be the regular starter at one of the wing positions, started at the power forward spot against the Warriors and had nine points, a game-high nine rebounds, and three assists in 34 minutes. Chambers, a junior transfer from the University of San Francisco, made 6-of-11 shots, including 5-of-8 from three-point territory, and had four rebounds to go with his game-high 19 points.

Freshman guard Alex Harris scored 12 points in a starting assignment against Westmont, including this slam dunk to end the game. (Photo by David Hull)

All three members of UCSB's starting backcourt also scored in double-figures. Senior Chrismen Oliver, starting at the point, had ten points and three assists in 30 minutes. Junior Joe See, starting at the off-guard spot, had 12 points and a game-high four assists. Both Oliver and See made 2-of-5 shots from beyond the three-point arc. Freshman guard Alex Harris, making the start at one of the wing spots, played 29 minutes and contributed 12 points, two rebounds and two assists. He also made 2-of-3 shots from three-point range and he ended the game with a resounding slam dunk.

Santa Barbara finished the game at 11-of-22 (50.0%) from three-point range and 27-of-53 overall from the floor, a solid 50.9%. The Gauchos also outrebounded the Warriors 32-26. Westmont, which counts the game in its regular season record, drops to 0-1. Guard Kyle Bechler paced the Warriors with 14 points. Sophomore forward Santiago Aguirre, a graduate of Santa Barbara High School, had 12 points, and forward Matt Burkholder added ten points and seven rebounds.

UCSB opens the regular season on Friday, November 19, when it travels to San Diego State for a 7:00 p.m. game at Cox Arena. The Gauchos expect Turner to return for that game, but the other five players who did not suit up tonight, are not expected face the Aztecs.