Feb 6, 2003

Final Stats

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - Branduinn Fullove scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the last eight minutes to lead UC Santa Barbara to a 62-50 victory over Utah State Thursday, pulling the Gauchos into a first-place tie with the Aggies in the Big West Conference.

UC Santa Barbara (10-10, 7-3), fueled by a trio of 3-pointers by Fullove, outscored Utah State (16-5, 7-3) 18-8 in the last nine minutes.

Freshman Josh Davis rallied the Gauchos from an early 20-17 deficit by scoring all eight of his points in the first half. UC Santa Barbara shot 58.3 percent in the first half (46.2 percent overall) to take a 34-28 lead.

Spencer Nelson, who got 11 of his 16 points in the second half, drew Utah State to within 45-42 at the nine-minute mark.

But two free throws by Nick Jones ended a six-minute scoreless drought for UC Santa Barbara. Fullove then scored 11 of the Gauchos' last 13 points. Mark Hull had the other two and finished with 13 points.

The Gauchos held the Aggies to 34.8 percent shooting in the second half (41.7 percent overall) while Bryan Whitehead was grabbing nine of his game-high 11 rebounds.