With their preseason Big West Conference honorees James Nunnally (24) and Orlando Johnson (21) leading the way, Santa Clara fell 89-56 at UC Santa Barbara in the Broncos first road game of the 2011-12 season. Santa Clara is 1-1 and Santa Barbara is 2-0. The Broncos lead the all-time series 15-11.
Santa Clara returns home to host San Jose State on Sat., Nov. 19 at 7 pm. The Spartans play at USF on Wed., Nov. 16 prior to traveling to Santa Clara.
Santa Clara shot 32.8 percent from the field (20 of 61), including 18.2 percent from beyond the arc (4 of 22). They collected 31 rebounds, eight assists, four steals, three blocks and 12 turnovers. They shot 63.2 percent from the free throw line (12 of 19).
Individually for Santa Clara Niyi Harrison led the effort with 15 points (6 of 10 from the field) and five rebounds. Kevin Foster scored 12, but was 1 of 8 from the three. Evan Roquemore added nine with four assists and five turnovers.
UC Santa Barbara shot 47.5 percent from the field (29 of 61), including 30.0 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 20). They collected 47 rebounds, 17 assists, six steals, seven blocks and 10 turnovers. They shot 78.1 percent from the free throw line (25 of 32).
Individually for UCSB Johnson scored 21 and was 7 of 12 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free throw line. Nunnally scored 24 and was 9 of 15 from the field. Nunnally added eight rebounds and Nate Garth had a team-high four assists. Three Gauchos had five rebounds each.
In the first half McArthur drew first blood with a jumper in the lane at 19:16 and UCSB answered with a 6-0 run when McArthur hit one in the lane again at 16:21.
After Foster's free throw, Johnson scored in the lane. And Harrison looked strong in the lane in scoring back-to-back baskets to put SCU up 9-8 at 14:57.
Johnson's 4-0 run to put UCSB up 12-9 before Johnson's three tied it up 12-12 at 13:21.
After the Gauchos whistled for time, UCSB went on an 18-0 run to take a 32-17 lead in the next seven minutes. On the bench for a majority of the action with two fouls each were Raymond Cowels III, Foster and Yannick Atanga.
After the Broncos 4-0 run with free throws with Foster and Roquemore hitting two each, UCSB went on a 7-1 run. Johnson scored three free throws and Nunnally threw down a monstrous dunk. Johnson's three from way out put UCSB up 41-22 at 1:11. Roquemore scored with two ticks left to pick up Santa Clara's lone bucket in the final 10:58 of the first half and trailed 42-24 at the half.
In the first half Santa Clara shot .30.0 from the field (8 of 27), including 10.0 percent from beyond the arc (1 of 10). They collected 13 rebounds, three assists, four steals, one block and eight turnovers. They shot 63.6 from the free throw line (7 of 11). Individually Harrison had seven points and Roquemore and McArthur had five each. Four players had two rebounds each. Foster, Roquemore and B. Clarke were a combined 2 of 15 from the field.
In the first half UC Santa Barbara shot 48.3 percent from the field (14 of 29), including 16.7 percent from beyond the arc (1 of 6). They collected 23 rebounds, nine assists, four steals, two blocks and eight turnovers. They shot 81.3 percent from the free throw line (13 of 16). Individually for UCSB Johnson had 15 and Nunnally added nine with five rebounds.
Roquemore and Foster hit threes to open the first minute of the second half sandwiched between a pair of free throws for Serna.
After Roquemore's jumper, Nate Garth answered with a three and Cowels jumper made it 49-34 at 17:08. Timeout UCSB.
A five-foot jumper by Foster followed back-to-back threes by UCSB to go up 20 at 14:52. Harrison scored under the bucket at 14:29 and after UCSB scored inside Harrison was fouled going inside and he hit one.
Playing with four freshmen (Atanga, Brandon Clark, Jordan Akwenuke and Denzel Johnson) and Roquemore, B. Clark hit a two-pointer at 13:21. UCSB went on a 10-0 run before Foster hit a pair of free throws to make it 68-43 at 9:56. UCSB answered with a basket and a pair of free throws in the next minute to go up 71-43.
Harrison scored a three-point play to give himself 13 points at 8:17.
Kyle Boswell crushed a three to make it 78-46 at 6:57. Harrison dunked it hard at 6:48 and then blocked the ball at the other end.
Greg Somogyi scored down low to put UCSB up 89-54 at 1:01. Atanga scored his second basket at :58.2.
Notes: Santa Clara started Foster, Harrison, McArthur, Roquemore and Cowels for the second straight game.