UCSB’s shooting touch disappeared in the second half against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night, a costly development that led to a 62-58 men’s basketball defeat at the Thunderdome – the Gauchos’ third Big West Conference loss in four games.
After shooting over 50 percent from the floor in the first half to earn a 37-30 halftime lead, UCSB made only five field goals total in the final 20 minutes and fell to 7-9 overall, 1-3 in the Big West.
Josh Akognon’s 20 second-half points and 13 turnovers by the Gauchos during that span were also big factors in the turnaround.
“With all that, (we) still had plenty of opportunities to have a shot at winning the game, but you gotta make plays and make shots down the stretch,” said UCSB head coach Bob Williams.
Down by two points at 60-58, the Gauchos made a defensive stop and called a timeout with just over a minute remaining. On the ensuing play, James Powell pulled up from well beyond the 3-point line for an open look at the basket.
The shot didn’t fall, but Powell had another chance to tie it after Fullerton’s Jacques Streeter missed a tough layup with two Gauchos in his face.
Powell dribbled to the right corner for a 17-foot jump shot. On his way up the ball came loose, bouncing off teammate D.J. Posley before landing in the hands of Fullerton’s Marcio Lassiter.
Lassiter hit his free throws to make it a four-point game, essentially closing out the game. Fullerton improves to 2-2 in the Big West (8-8 overall).
During the final three minutes, UCSB turned it over three times while only managing one field goal attempt (James Powell’s meaningless desperation 3 at the end not included).
The second-half woes are becoming a problem for the Gauchos, ocurring in three of four Big West games so far this season and Williams knows it better than anyone else.
“We’ve come out in the second half and layed an egg. I mean, I’m not going to sugarcoat it.”
Akognon finished with 29 points and shot 5-for-11 from 3-point land. The senior played all 20 minutes of the second half but Fullerton head coach Bob Burton pulled him just two minutes into the game to make a point to his leading scorer and his team.
“Tonight was really trying to get our guys to play defense and if you didn’t play defense you were coming out,” said Burton, crediting his players with causing many of UCSB’s struggles. “In the second half, I thought our pressure bothered them. It was the best defense that we’ve played all year long.
“I mean, it really was.”
It was a special night for Burton, who reached a milestone with his 100th career victory.
Powell had a team-high 19 points for UCSB and Chris Devine was his only teammate in double figures with 13. The pair were also responsible for team-highs in turnovers, accounting for 11 between the two of them.
UCSB can shake off the tough loss when they begin a three-game road trip next Saturday at Cal Poly. The Mustangs are winless in conference. The trip concludes with the northern two-game swing to Pacific and UC Davis.
