Big West Roundup : Utah State Defense Too Tough for Santa Barbara

Chris Sheehan came off the bench to score 7 points with less than 5 minutes left in the game to help Utah State score a 78-65 victory over previously undefeated UC Santa Barbara Saturday night at Logan, Utah.

Utah State (5-9 overall, 3-2 in the Big West) used a swarming defense to hold Santa Barbara to 34% shooting for the game as the Gauchos fell to 11-1 and 2-1.

The Aggies held Santa Barbara to just 4 points in the first 8 minutes of the game to build a 19-4 lead. Reid Newey, who scored 19 points, made 3 3-point shots during the run. The Gauchos battled back within 27-17, but a 9-0 run by the Aggies put them ahead, 36-17, with 8:29 left in the half.

In the second half, Santa Barbara went on a 12-2 run, keyed by Gary Gray’s 6 points, as the Gauchos cut the lead to 53-45 with 8:54 left.

Pacific 75, New Mexico State 70--Reggie Ricks made a 30-foot 3-point shot with 33 seconds left to lead the Tigers past the Aggies at Stockton and end their 26-game conference losing streak.

UOP (5-7, 1-3) had 4 players in double figures, led by Ricks with 15.

New Mexico (9-6, 2-3), got most of its offense from Johnnie Roberson, who scored 23 points. Roberson scored 17 points in the first half to put the Aggies ahead, 46-38, at halftime. But he was shut down in the second half, attempting just 1 shot for 2 points as the Aggies were outscored, 37-24.