Even after the busiest summer of his basketball life, senior-to-be Orlando Johnson had enough left in his tank to lead UCSB to a 105-76 win over the Ontario Revolution Monday in the first game of the Gauchos five-game exhibition tour of eastern Canada.
“He is such a great competitor,” said UCSB head coach Bob Williams of his senior-to-be. “I know that he is fatigued, mentally and physically, so we didn’t play him a lot of minutes, but he still produces.”
Johnson’s whirlwind summer included stints at the Kevin Durant and LeBron James Skills Camps, a 10-day period in Colorado Springs when he tried out for, made and practiced with Team USA, and then a two-week period as a member of the American team at the World University Games in China.
He should have been tuckered out after returning for the six practices and then joining his teammates on their day-long journey to Toronto on Sunday. But in just over 19 minutes off the bench, Johnson had 26 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.
While Johnson was the main attraction, he was not the only show in town. In all, the six Gauchos scored in double-figures, including a pair of freshmen and a transfer. Freshman forward Lewis Thomas, a native of Perth, Australia, finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, five steals and one assist. Freshman guard T.J. Taylor had 12 points, on four three-pointers, four assists and a steal.
Junior point guard Nate Garth, a transfer from New Mexico who sat out the 2010-11 season, had 11 points, a game-high seven assists, and a pair of rebounds. Also scoring in double-figures were trusted veterans James Nunnally (10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals) and Jaimé Serna (10 points and five rebounds).
The Revolution was sponsored by ABA-Canada and the game essentially served as a tryout for Canada’s entry in the American Basketball Association. Things were close for much of the first half with UCSB leading just 35-32 midway through the second quarter. The Gauchos used a 19-7 run to closeout the half and took a 54-37 lead into the locker room.
The second half lead never dipped below 10 and ballooned to 33 on three occasions.
