Dec. 22, 2004
Final Stats
(SAN DIEGO, CA) - The USD Toreros closed out their 3-game homestand with their third straight victory downing the visiting UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, 71-63. With the win the Toreros improve to 6-5 on the season. Junior forward Nick Lewis matched his career high with 20 points and pulled down a team-high 11 boards. Senior center Brice Vounang wasn't far behind as he netted 15 points and grabbed 10 boards for his third double-double of the season. The Toreros, winners of 4 of their last 5, will play at Wyoming on Dec. 28th before closing out their nonconference schedule with Creighton at home on Dec. 31st (4:35 p.m.).
The Toreros stormed out the gates with an 11-1 lead behind 6 points by Vounang. The Gauchos quickly closed to within 13-10 on a layup by Josh Davis at the 13:23 mark. Over the next 7 minutes of action the Toreros would extend their lead back to as many as 8 points at 26-18 on a jumper by Vounang with 6:40 to go. A Nick Lewis layup with :23 left in the period gave USD its biggest lead of the game at 41-29, but the Gauchos' Joe See scored on a three-point play with :02 seconds left, then UCSB stole the ball back and Derek Rasp scored at the buzzer to pull within 41-34 at intermission.
In the 2nd half UCSB scored two quick buckets to get within 3 at 41-38, but a Lewis bucket and Avi Fogel three-point play gave the Toreros some breathing room at 46-38 with 17:47 to go. The closest UCSB would get the rest of the way is 6 points (58-52) with 6:42 left, but a Michael Hubbard jumper and Brandon Gay trey closed out the threat.
For the game USD shot 50% from the field (25-50), a season-best 77.8% from three-point land (7-9) and a solid 82.4% from the charity stripe. USD also held a slim lead on the boards at 33-29. Besides Lewis and Vounang, who both finished with double-doubles, Brandon Gay chipped in with 13 points and 6 rebounds, and Ross DeRogatis added 10 points.
UCSB (2-6) was led by Joe See (17 points), Chrismen Oliver (12 points) and Cameron Goettsche (10 points, 11 rebounds). UCSB shot 42.9% from the field, 30.8% from three-point land and 647% from the free throw line.
