Alan Williams made 10 of 12 field goals to lead UCSB to its third straight win.
Alan Williams recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and UCSB limited The Master’s College to 34.5 percent shooting from the field en route to a 81-52 non-conference win on Saturday afternoon at the Thunderdome.
It was the Gauchos’ third straight win and sixth in their last seven games. They complete the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 9-4 record.
The contest was close early, but after the Mustangs drew within one at 18-17 on a Korey Anderson lay-up with 11:31 to play, UCSB ended the first half with a 23-7 run, including a 15-0 spurt, to take a commanding 41-24 lead at the break. Williams had 12 of his points and six of his rebounds in the first half.
UCSB opened the second half on an 8-0 run to claim an insurmountable 49-24 lead with just over 17 minutes to play in the game. The lead expanded to as many as 31 (67-36) before the Gauchos settled for the 29-point win.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we have a great time playing with each other,” said sophomore Mitch Brewe who recorded his first career double-double and set a pair of career-highs with 11 points and 10 rebounds “I’m having a great time playing basketball right now and the guys on this team and the chemistry are the reason.”
Williams made 10-of-12 field goals for UCSB and added two steals and one blocked shot in his 22 minutes of play. He entered the game ranked fifth in the nation in scoring and eighth in rebounding.
“In my 16 years, I don’t think I’ve had a player who was more of a gamer than Big Al,” said head coach Bob Williams. “It doesn’t matter who we line up against, Cal or The Master’s, he is ready to play and compete. He is a special player and deserves the recognition he gets.”
As for Brewe’s performance, Coach Williams was also pleased.
“Mitch is a very valuable player for us,” he said. “Everyone on this team is a role player and he understands his role. He is a hybrid for us, playing the four and the five, and I think he’s getting better and better every game and that’s exciting to see.”
UCSB finished with 21 assists and just 11 turnovers on its 31 baskets. Zalmico Harmon and Eric Childress each had six assists to lead the way. Taran Brown added a season-high four.
Overall, the Gauchos made 31-of-62 from the field, and 12-of-27 from three-point range, 44.4 percent. Kyle Boswell had 14 points and was 4-for-10 from three-point territory. Brewe and Michael Bryson each made a pair of threes while Aamahd Walker, Shawn Moore and Hunter Ford each hit their first career three-pointers.
Derrick Fain led the Mustangs with 13 points while Bernerd Ireland added 11 and Dominique Lanier 10.
The Gauchos open Big West Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 11 when they host Blue-Green Rival Cal Poly in a 4 p.m. game at the Thunderdome.
