SoCalHoops College News

UCSB Still Winless After
Losing To Portland--(Nov. 25, 1998)

After proudly proclaiming the start of the Bob Williams era and the end of the Jerry Pimm days following the turmoil that surrounded the Gaucho men's basketball team last year, UCSB is still looking for it's first victory after 78-73 loss at Portland last night.  The Gauchos have now lost 12 straight, including the losses last season, and are now 0-4 this year under their new head coach.

"We were probably hitting on four of our eight cylinders tonight,'' new coach Bob Williams told Mark Patton of the Santa Barbara News Press last night, "and that's an improvement." Although Santa Barbara shot 50 percent from the field, and were tied with Portland on rebounds with each team at 40, they let the lead slip away in the final minutes of the game. With the win, the Portland Pilots extend their record to 3-1 overall.

There were no less than 15 lead changes in this game, but Portland outscored UCSB 15-4 in a six-minute stretch beginning with 8:20 remaining on the clock.  Of the 15 lead changes, nine came during the first half alone. Josh Merrill shot well early, hitting a layup for the first points, making another fall-away bank shot, and then hitting a 3 pointer, followed by a baseline jumper. And that was just the start of the game, and it looked like UCSB might be off to a great start, but it was only enough for a two point lead, 15-13, and after all of that early activity, he finished with 15 points and five rebounds before fouling out with 1:46 left. Adama Ndiaye came off the bench to give the Gauchos their biggest lead of the first half, 19-13. Ryan Jones, however, sank a 3-pointer and scored a three-point play off the drive to ignite an eight-point run and a 21-19 lead for Portland.

Brandon Payton, who was held scoreless in Saturday's loss to Westmont, came off the bench and finished well with 18 points on 7 for 12 shooting. "It was good to see Brandon get into the flow offensively,'' Williams told the News-Press. Late in the game, with the crowd chanting "You're no Gary! You're no Gary!" in reference to his brother, Seattle SuperSonic guard Gary Payton, Brandon sank two free throws to give UCSB its last lead of the game, 58-56, with 8:34 remaining. Portland then went on a shooting spree, hitting for 8 straight points to end the game.  BJ Bunton tried to get UCSB back into it hitting a 15 foot jumper, a 3-pointer and a tip-in in the last two minutes, but it wasn't enough as Portland held on for the win.

©Copyright 1998 All rights reserved
Questions? Comments? Need Information?
Contact: jegesq@SoCalHoops.com