LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Alan Williams led all
scorers with 21 points and also had nine rebounds to lead UCSB to an
86-65 victory over UNLV Tuesday night at the Thomas and Mack Center.
UNLV led one time in the game, at the
12:39 mark of the first half, when it went up 13-11. But the Gauchos
went on runs of 8-0, 20-8 and 34-16 to close out the half.
UNLV's offensive woes wore on the Runnin' Rebels' effort on the defensive end as well.
The Gauchos (2-0) shot a scorching 62.5
percent from the field (15 of 24) in the first half and led 45-29 at
halftime. UCSB finished the game shooting 29 of 52 (55.8) from the
field, including 9 of 14 (64.3) on 3-pointers. The Gauchos also out
rebounded UNLV, 41-33.
Kyle Boswell added 19 for the Gauchos, after shooting 5 of 7 from beyond the arc.
UCSB, which was picked to finish second
in the Big West by league media, has won both of its first two games by
more than 20 points, after routing Hawaii-Pacific in its season-opener,
76-50.
UNLV dropped to 19-4 all-time against UCSB, including 12-4 at home.
UNLV (1-1) shot a dismal 23 of 63 (36.5)
from the field. The Runnin' Rebels had three players in double figures,
led by Kevin Olekaibe's 15 points. Kendall Smith added 13 points, while
Jamal Aytes contributed with 10 for the Rebels.
The 86 points in the game are more than
UNLV allowed in any game all of last season, the highest being in an
83-79 loss to Oregon in the Rebels' third game of the season.
UNLV is next in action Friday night, at
home against Omaha. UCSB, meanwhile, returns to Santa Barbara to host
Utah State on Saturday.
