A well-balanced offensive onslaught and a triple-double by Ariel Bland powered UCSB Men’s Basketball to a 126-76 victory over Bethesda on Saturday inside the Thunderdome.
Seven Gauchos hit double-digits in scoring while Bland ended his career performance with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
Bethesda, an NCCAA school, surprisingly kept it close for some of the first half, keeping UCSB’s lead down to 10 to 15 points for the majority of it.
However, five quick points and an assist by Cole Anderson just before halftime gave UCSB a 58-42 lead heading into the locker room.
Anderson would end the day with 20 points (8-13 FG, 4-8 3PT) to lead the Gauchos.
While there was some competition in the first half, UCSB came out of the break with its foot on the gas and ballooned the lead to 31 at 79-48 just four minutes into the second half.
From there, head coach Joe Pasternack was able to empty the bench and get plenty of players time on the court, as 12 Gauchos saw playing time and scored at least three points.
Rounding out the double-digit scorers behind Anderson and Bland were Matija Belic (14), Evans Kipruto (14), Kilian Brockhoff (14), Ajay Mitchell (12) and Gage Gomez (11).
UCSB (5-3) will take a week off and resume against Loyola Marymount next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Arizona for the Jerry Colangelo Classic.
