UCSB's John Green needs assistance to leave the court after injuring his foot. (Presidio Sports Photo)
Orlando Johnson was on the court for UCSB’s regular-season opener on Friday night against Chapman, but it was teammate James Nunnally that paced the Gauchos in a 74-48 victory at the Thunderdome.
Johnson made his season debut after sitting out last Saturday’s exhibition opener with a sore Achilles.
“That wasn’t the mid-season O.J. out there tonight,” UCSB head coach Bob Williams said. “His timing just isn’t there yet, but with him you know it will be.”
Nunnally connected on 9-of-12 shot attempts to score 20 points with five rebounds while Johnson collected 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Kyle Boswell also reached double-figures for the Gauchos, adding 11. Boswell has made 6-of-9 3-point attempts in two games this season.
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A possible serious injury to promising freshman John Green put a damper on the victory, as the swingman hurt his foot in the second half. Green, who led the Gauchos in scoring in their exhibition victory last week, is scheduled to under-go x-rays on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury but the player said it felt very similar to a fracture he experienced in the other foot that kept him in a cast for three months earlier this year.
Brandon Lin led Chapman, a Division III school, with 11 points. Justin Young added nine.
The 26-point difference in the game was UCSB’s biggest lead of the night. The Gauchos led by as many as 17 in the first half though and it was clear Chapman was outmatched.
The Gauchos (1-0) host Santa Clara on Tuesday in what will be a much more difficult matchup for UCSB.
