UCSB Mens Basketball vs. USF Dons

Orlando Johnson went for 25 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the Gauchos 76-65 victory over San Francisco.

James Nunnally, who scored 20 points, opened the game with back to back threes. Nunnally scored 12 of those 20 in the first half. Nunnally and Orlando combined for 59% of the points last night.

Another thing that was good for the Gauchos was PG Justin Joyners return. He sat out all of last year with injury and missed the first two games with an ankle sprain. He only played 2 minutes but should see lots more action in the next few games.

San Francisco got it close after the Gauchos early run by getting the halftime score to 33-28.

Then Nunnally opened the half with a jumper and the lead for the rest of the game stayed above 4 points.

Dior Lowhorn led the Dons with 26 points.

The Gauchos go on the road for one game when they take on Loyola Marymount on Saturday.

Go Gauchos!

UCSB Mens Basketball vs. Weber State Wildcats

Orlando (OJ) Johnson scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as UCSB defeated Weber State 66-57. After the game, OJ received six stitches as a result of diving into the UCSB bench to get a loose ball. What a competitor. Here is what Bob Williams had to say, "He is so tough. A little thing like that wasn't going to keep him on the bench. He is just so competitive."

Both teams didn't shoot great in the game but Weber State reinvented bad shooting. They shot 18.4% while the Gauchos shot 35.4% from the field.

Jaime Serna chipped in 9 points while Will Brew Jr. and James Nunnally both had 7.

The Gauchos will be back in action Monday, November, 23rd when they take on the San Francisco Dons at 7:00 p.m. PG Justin Joyner, who sat out due to injury last year, will be back in action for the 'Chos.

Go Gauchos!

Key Stats:

Attendance: 2,021

Rebounds: WSU-42 UCSB-43

FT%: WSU-66.7% UCSB-69.2%

Orlando Johnson

UCSB Mens Basketball vs. CS Los Angeles

All hail Orlando. Sophomore transfer Orlando Johnson shined bright Saturday night as he shot 7-7 from the field and had 19 points in a 85-57 UCSB win over CSULA.

At the half, the Gauchos only led CSULA by 4 points but in the beginning moments of the second half, you could tell this would be ugly. They broke the game open with a 19-2 run and they never looked back.

James Powell had a great all around game with 14 points and 5 assists. Sam Phippen had a career high 14 points. Jon Pastorek had a solid game with 11 points and 6 rebounds.

The Gauchos played without Justin Joyner, Chris Brew, and James Nunnally. James, who was late, had to say this about being late, "I f$%*$# up." I hope he doesn't again.

The Gauchos first true test of the season will be Tuesday night as Weber State comes to town at 7:00 p.m.

Go Gauchos!

James Powell

#3 UCSB Mens Soccer vs. CS Northridge Matadors

Coming in as the #1 seed and a top 5 team in the country, the Gauchos look primed for a Big West Championship and the first game of tournament went their way as they defeated CS Northridge 1-0.

Junior Michael Boxall got the Gauchos on the score board in the 72nd minute when Luis Silva struck a shot, it was deflected and the defender headed it in for his first career goal.

The goal propelled the Gauchos into the Big West Championship game for the 2nd straight year and will face UC Irvine Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Harder Stadium.

Goalie Sam Hayden recorded his 14th shutout of the year and that is a new UCSB record and also ties the Big West record.

Before the soccer game, go to the Men's Basketball game vs. Cal State LA at 3:00 p.m. at The Thunderdome!!

Go Gauchos!!!

Michael Boxall

#2 UCSB Mens Soccer vs. UC Davis Aggies

With the seniors being the main pregame attraction, they did not disappoint. The Gauchos scored two second half goals to defeat UC Davis 2-0.

The breakthrough came in 65th minute when senior Martin Hedevag cleared the ball to fellow senior David Walker who sent a through ball to freshman striker Michael Nonni who scored to give the Gauchos a 1-0 lead.

Just two minutes later, the score doubled when David Walker got his team leading 7th goal of the season. Walker had five shots and Nonni with four but both had two shots a piece on target.

Goalie Sam Hayden recorded another clean sheet while getting five saves in the match.

Tim Vom Steeg said this about tonight's effort, "Tonight was a very, very good effort on our parts."

This however is not the last home game of the year because the Gauchos clinched the Big West, they will host Cal State Northridge in the Big West Soccer Tournament Semifinals Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Harder Stadium.

Go Gauchos!

Key Stats:

Total Shots: UCD-10 UCSB-15
Fouls: UCD-16 UCSB-13

Attendance: 6,854

David Walker

UCSB Mens Basketball vs. Sonoma State Seawolves

Folks, this is going to be a good season for Gaucho basketball. The Men's basketball team got things going yesterday with a 101-64 exhibition win over the Sonoma State Seawolves.

Six minutes into the game with a 14-14 score on the board, the Gauchos exploded. They went on a 25-2 run over the next eight minutes which included numerous three pointers by Paul Roemer, Orlando Johnson, and James Powell.

Then with five minutes to go in the half, junior Jordan Weiner threw up a alley-oop pass to Sam Phippen who threw it down!! As Dick Vitale would say, "It was awesome baby!"

The score at halftime was 53-28.

Then the monumental 100th point came with two minutes to go when Jon Pastorek put up a lay up to give the Gauchos 100 points and their biggest lead of the game, 100-60.

Orlando Johnson led all scorers with 21 points and also recorded 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals, and 2 assists. James Nunnally contributed 13 points and 3 assists. James Powell, Jon Pastorek, and Lucas Devenny all had 10 points a piece.

The Gauchos next game is the regular season opener when they take on Cal State LA at 7:00 p.m. at The Thunderdome.

Go Gauchos!

Key Stats:
Three Point FG %: SSU-33.3 UCSB-58.8
Rebounds: SSU-23 UCSB-35
Attendance: 1655

Gaucho Basketball Preview (The Schedule)

After big non conference home games vs. North Carolina and Utah State, the Gauchos two big non conference games will be on the road. So here is the scoop.

The Schedule

The Gauchos play their only exhibition game November 7th vs Sonoma State at 3 p.m. They then open up the regular season vs. CS Los Angeles who they beat last year at The Thunderdome. Then the schedule gets a bit tougher when Big Sky opponent Weber State and West Conference opponent San Francisco come to The 'Dome. The Gauchos seek revenge versus both those teams because they lost to both teams in close games last year.

The Gauchos then travel to the City of Angels when they take on Loyola Marymount.

The Gauchos then return home to Santa Barbara when they take on the two biggest non conference home games of the year. They will play Santa Clara on December 1st and then December 5th welcome the Aztecs from San Diego State.

After that two game home stand, they travel to Bozeman, MT where they take on last years Bracket Busters opponent Montana State. On December 21st, the Gauchos will take on a Pacific 10 opponent for the first time in two years when they collide with Arizona State in Tempe, AZ. I am such a big fan that I will be in attendance! Go Gauchos!

Up next is the Golden Bear Classic. The first games of the tournament will be Cal vs. Utah Valley and UCSB vs. Furman. UCSB is the #2 seed and takes on Furman who is coming off a painful 6 win season. So if all goes how it is predicted, UCSB will take on Pac 10 Heavyweight Cal in the Championship game.

After the holiday affair, the Big West season begins. Some of the big games this year will be 1/8/10 vs. UC Davis on ESPNU, 1/14/10 at Long Beach State, 1/28/10 vs. Blue/Green rivalry opponent Cal Poly, 2/13/10 vs Long Beach State on FSNPT, and the 2/20/10 ESPNU Bracket Buster game.

For a complete schedule, visit http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/ucsb-m-baskbl-sched.html.

Go Gauchos!