Wyoming 56, UC Santa Barbara 40

Published Dec. 21, 2012 11:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

Leonard Washington spurred a second-half surge by the Cowboys and finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds as Wyoming stayed unbeaten with a 56-40 win over UC Santa Barbara on Friday night.

Washington scored his team's first eight points after intermission, helping erase a 25-24 deficit and allowing Wyoming (12-0) to match the school record for victories to begin a season. The 1950-1951 squad was the only other to start 12-0.

Luke Martinez added 14 points for Wyoming, Alan Williams scored 16 points and 10 rebounds and Kyle Boswell had 13 for UC Santa Barbara.

Wyoming jumped to a 15-6 lead, but behind Williams and Boswell, UC Santa Barbara (4-7) closed within 24-23 at intermission.

The Gauchos took their only lead on an 18-foot jumper by Taran Brown early in the second half. A minute later, Washington sank two free throws to put Wyoming back on top for good.