The UCSB men’s basketball team faces San Diego State tonight at the Thunderdome. The 4-0 Gauchos are looking to keep their undefeated record intact against an Aztec team that is 6-1 so far, including a 61-57 victory over No. 23 Arizona in San Diego State’s last game.
Presidio Sports will be providing in-game updates from courtside.
GAME OVER – And it’s over. Final score San Diego State 76, UCSB 75. Orlando Johnson finishes with a game-high 26 points for UCSB, while Xavier Thames is the Aztecs’ leading scorer with 19. The Aztecs improve to 7-1, winning their second overtime game in their last three contests. Game story coming later.
0.4 seconds left – A UCSB 3-pointer makes it a 1-point game again but only a fraction of a second remains. Jamaal Franklin to inbound.
3.4 seconds left – Jamaal Franklin makes technical free throws after Orlando Johnson turns ball over (UCSB player tried to call timeout when UCSB didn’t have any, causing the technical). Aztecs take 76-72 lead with Tapley talking to the UCSB fans.
23.7 seconds remaining – UCSB’s James Nunnally draws foul and two free throws. After making the first to pull UCSB to 73-71, Aztec coach Steve Fisher calls timeout.
0:40 – A steal and dunk by Jamaal Franklin gives San Diego an abrupt 73-70 lead. Franklin stepped in front of a pass intended for Orlando Johnson and took it the length of the court for a break-away one-handed dunk.
1:32 – UCSB fails to score, or even to get a good shot, and San Diego gets the ball back with 1-point lead. Coach Fisher elects to take a timeout and talk it over. Score: San Diego State 71, UCSB 70
2:45 – UCSB had lead for all of OT until Tapley drains a 3-pointer for a 71-70 Aztec lead. Tapley’s 16 second to Xavier Thames’ 19 for San Diego. Johnson’s 26 still leads all scorers.
END OF REGULATION – Tapley falls down and turns the ball over on a traveling call, giving UCSB a chance for a game-winner with 1 second on the clock. An inbounds play finds Kyle Boswell 30 feet straight out. His long shot falls way short. Overtime. It’s the second overtime game in the last three games for the Aztecs and the first for UCSB this season.
4.5 seconds left in regulation – Serna misses first free throw but makes the second straight through to tie the game at 63-63. Timeout called.
0:04 – Jamaal Stephens fouled on a lay-up attempt, makes 1-of-2 for 63-62 Aztec lead. UCSB comes down and runs out much of the clock. Orlando Johnson tries to get a shot but can’t create. He dumps it to Kyle Boswell, who finds Jaime Serna underneath. Serna fouled and going to the line after this timeout.
1:05 – UCSB comes out of the timeout and Johnson converts a 3-point play to bring it even again. The UCSB fans are going wild after a sizeable Aztec cheering section was giving them a hard time during the previous timeout. Johnson has 26.
1:16 – San Diego State catches UCSB at 59-59 but an Aztec 3-pointer puts San Diego up 62-59. UCSB calls timeout
5:46 – Although less aggressive this time, players again have to be separated by the referees after some jawing. James Nunnally, Orlando Johnson, Chase Tapley in the middle of it. One of two free throws by Garrett Green makes it 58-51. Time out.
5:53 – Orlando Johnson is carrying UCSB in the offensive end. Johnson has a game-high 20 points as the only Gaucho in double figures while San Diego has three with 10 or more points – Tapley, Xavier Thames, and Garrett Green. A James Nunnally jumper gives Nunnally 11 points and UCSB a 56-50 lead.
7:57 – Bad-pass turnover by SDSU’s DeShawn Stephens gives UCSB the ball back after another Orlando Johnson jumpshot had given UCSB a 52-47 lead. Official timeout.
8:40 – UCSB shooting foul is the Gauchos’ seventh of the half, putting the Aztecs in the bonus from here on out. Two free throws from Orlando Johnson, now with 19 points, gives UCSB a slim 50-47 lead.
12:00 – With UCSB’s starting center Jaime Serna quickly back on the bench with three fouls, UCSB’s 7-foot-3 backup center Greg Somogyi coming up big, especially on defensive end. Somogyi has five blocks so far. Jamaal Franklin bucket brings SDSU within 3 at 44-41. Orlando Johnson up to 17 points in the game.
14:57 – San Diego State starts the half with a purpose, taking back the lead at 34-33 after a 9-2 run to start the second half. But UCSB responded after Bob Williams called a timeout, regaining a 42-36 advantage.
HALFTIME – UCSB takes a 31-25 lead into the locker room. After trailing 17-10, UCSB closed the half on a 21-8 run. Orlando Johnson leads the Gauchos with 8 points and 4 rebounds. Chase Tapley has 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting for the Aztecs.
12:30 – Small skirmish breaks out by the Gaucho bench but quickly broken up by UCSB coaching staff and referees. No technicals called.
13:00 – UCSB falls behind 11-4 but after an Orlando Johnson 3-pointer, the Gauchos pull back to 11-9. Greg Somogyi making an impact off bench with two blocks and a basket.
15:43 – Timeout. 5-2 San Diego. UCSB starting out ice-cold. Biggest crowd of the season still filling into the Thunderdome. Biggest crowd even though many students are away on break. SB community showing up.
16:55 on the clock – Neither team can find the scoreboard, with each team trading several missed shots – including an airball from Nate Garth – until Xavier Thames knocks down a mid-range jumpshot for a 2-0 lead for the Aztecs. Nunnally ties it with first UCSB basket on next possession.
TIPOFF – For the first time this season, UCSB turns the lights out in the Thunderdome for the announcement of its starting lineup. The Gauchos start Orlando Johnson, James Nunnally, Jaime Serna, Nate Garth and Christian Peterson, which is the same starting five as all season. The Aztecs start with Chase Tapley, James Rahon, Tim Shelton, Garrett Green, and Xavier Thames.
