Alan Williams recorded his second straight double-double to lead four UCSB players in double figures, but it wasn’t enough to beat Florida Gulf Coast on Monday night.
FGCU went on a 9-3 run in overtime and beat the Gauchos, 81-75. Williams led UCSB with 29 points and 16 rebounds. John Green scored a career-high 17 points and Michael Bryson and Gabe Vincent had 12 apiece for the Gauchos (0-2)
Trailing 32-28 at halftime, the Gauchos used a 7-2 run to stay close and Williams tied it at 64 at the end of regulation with two free throws. With the score tied at 68-68 with 3:12 remaining, FGCU reeled off six straight points to claim a 74-68 edge with 1:01 on the clock.
Vincent knocked-down a three-pointer from the left wing to close the gap to 74-71 with 58 seconds left, but FGCU then stretched the advantage back to 77-71 at the 49-second mark.
Williams pulled UCSB within 77-73 when he made a lay-up with 31 seconds remaining and Eric Childress made 1-of-2 free throws four second later, making it 77-74 with 27 ticks left. But the Gauchos would get no closer.
“This was a very good basketball game,” said Gauchos’ head coach Bob Williams. “I wish we could have knocked-down some of our open threes, and ultimately we will, but tonight we had to scrap for everything we got. That’s a good basketball team (FGCU) over there, they’re favored to win their league and there is a reason for that.”
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