Overview:
UCSB center Andre Kelly returned from one-game suspension to score team-high 22 points
RIVERSIDE — UC Riverside went into a simple shooting drill against UC Santa Barbara down the stretch on Saturday.
The Highlanders made their last seven shots — four of which were completely unguarded — as well as seven free throws to pull away for a crucial 74-63 men’s basketball victory at the SRC Arena.
They outscored the Gauchos 23-8 during a six-minute spree that didn’t end until Cole Anderson’s meaningless layup in the closing seconds.
“We had a couple of breakdowns at the end of the game,” UCSB coach Joe Pasternack said. “They shot 74% in the second half (17-for-23), and you can’t beat anybody — at home or on the road — by giving up 74% from the field.”
The defeat is UCSB’s second in a row and third in its last five games, dropping it out of its first-place tie with UC Irvine (19-8, 12-3 Big West Conference) in the league race.
The Gauchos (20-6, 11-4 league) also hold a shaky half-game lead for second place over Riverside, (18-10, 11-5). The Highlanders own the tiebreaker over UCSB after sweeping the season series for the first time in their history.
The Gauchos struggled to get started offensively, missing seven of their first nine shots to fall behind 12-5.
Jakov Kukic ended a four-minute scoreless spell by coming off the bench to rebound one of those misses. He got fouled on his own shot attempt and made both free throws to start a 7-0 run which included a three-pointer by Miles Norris.
Andre Kelly scored a pair of hook shots and Norris added a runner to put UCSB ahead 18-17.
Kelly, coming back from a one-game suspension for fighting, led the Gauchos with 22 points and eight rebounds. Norris and Josh Pierre-Louis added 10 points apiece. Pierre-Louis also had six rebounds.
But the Gauchos’ momentum stalled when they were whistled for four traveling violations within a span of just three minutes. Riverside took advantage with a 6-0 run after back-to-back baskets by freshman post player Lachlan Olbrich.
It was the start of a one-on-one scoring duel between the lanky Australian and UCSB’s Kelly. They both made 11-of-16 shots, but Olbrich also made a free throw to lead all scorers with 23 points.
“At the end of the day, they really did a great job —kudos to them,” Pasternack said. “They pounded the ball on the glass and killed us on the boards and in the paint.
“That’s kind of a common theme right now.”
The Highlanders outrebounded UCSB 28-23. The Gauchos got only five rebounds in the entire second half — Riverside left only six misses to be had.
But the game was a back-and-forth affair until UCSB’s defense surrendered in the last six minutes.
Kukic converted a three-point play off the fast break and Pierre-Louis added another trifecta on a handoff from Kelly to draw the Gauchos to within 27-24 at halftime.
They shot just 34.8% to the Highlanders’ 37.5% in the first half while committing nine turnovers.
They warmed up to make 64.3% after the break and finish at 51% for the game. It wasn’t enough, however, to make up for Riverside’s score-a-thon in the second half. The Highlanders finished at 52.7% for the game.
Kukic scored five points in just four minutes of action. His three rebounds were as many as the 6-foot-10 Norris got in 37 minutes, and he was the only UCSB post player to block a shot. The Highlanders scored 42 points in the paint against a Gaucho help defense which offered no rim protection.
Riverside, on the other hand, made a concerted effort to bring help defense every time Mitchell drove to the basket. It held the Big West’s fourth-leading scorer to 0-for-5 shooting in the first half.
He finished with eight points— less than half his scoring average of 16.3. Mitchell made just 2-of-10 shots and missed all three of his three-pointers.
“They did a great job of defending him and collapsing on him,” Pasternack said. “He had six assists and two turnovers, and you’ll take that.”
The Gauchos adjusted to Riverside’s defense in the second half by isolating Kelly on the post for five baskets during the first 5½ minutes alone. He scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half.
Norris’ three just inside the 14-minute mark put the Gauchos ahead 39-38.
UCSB took its last lead of 53-51 when Mitchell fed Anderson for a fast-break layup with 6:31 left.
But Riverside didn’t miss after that. It made seven-straight field goals and seven consecutive free throws against a withering Gaucho team that was missing two rotation players with injuries: starting guard Ajare Sanni and top reserve forward Koat Keat Tong.
The Gauchos offered no help defense when Olbrich drove past Kelly for an unopposed dunk with 4:41 to go. They left the door open again with 2:19 left for point guard Zyon Pullin to score an easy layup against UCSB’s retreating post players.
Pullin, one of Mitchell’s biggest challengers for Big West Player of the Year honors, won Saturday’s matchup with 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
The Gaucho guards also left Flynn Cameron and Jamal Hartwell II all alone at the three-point line to make crushing shots during the final three minutes. Cameron finished with 21 points and five assists.
UCSB will return to action with home games Monday against Cal State Fullerton and Thursday against Long Beach State before traveling to UC San Diego on Saturday.
“You have to have a short memory,” Pasternack said. “We have a quick turnaround here.”