Michael Wilder hit a 3-pointer with 8.7 seconds left in regulation time to lift UC Irvine to a 62-60 victory over UCSB in a Big West men’s basketball game at the Bren Center on Saturday night.
Wilder’s shot spoiled a second-half comeback by the Gauchos, who trailed by as many as 19 points in the half, and the return of their leading scorer and rebounder, Alan Williams. Williams scored 22 points, had eight rebounds and three steals before fouling out with 40 seconds left.
UCSB was down by one, 59-58, when Williams picked up his fifth foul.
The Gauchos got a break when Adam Folker missed the front end of the one-and-one for Irvine. They got the ball to Taran Brown and he hit a jump shot from the right baseline to put UCSB ahead 60-58 with 18 seconds to go.
After a UC Irvine time out, the Anteaters worked the ball around and Chris McNealy fed Wilder for the eventual winning 3-pointer.
Kyle Boswell missed a trey at the buzzer, and the Gauchos suffered their second straight two-point loss on the road.
UCSB falls to 7-14 and 3-7 in the Big West. UC Irvine is 12-11, 6-4.
“I was proud of the way we fought back in the second half,” said UCSB coach Bob Williams. “I was un-pleased with the way we played in the first half, but the second half was a completely different thing and I’m happy about that.”
Alan Williams picked-up three fouls in the first half as the Gauchos shot just 33.3 percent and were outrebounded by Irvine 22-12. The second half was a different story in all aspects as UCSB shot 51.9 percent and had a 19-9 rebounding edge.
Boswell scored 15 points and Michael Bryson tallied 12 for the Gauchos.
While Alan Williams returned with a solid game, Santa Barbara’s injuries continued to pile up. Keegan Hornbuckle re-sprained his ankle in the second half and didn’t return, Nate Garth pulled his hamstring on Wednesday night and Mitch Brewe broke a bone in his left hand during practice on Friday and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Alex Young scored 12 points to lead UC Irvine. McNealy tallied 10 points and Folker and Will Davis II chipped in 9 apiece.
