Lack of Depth Dooms UCSB at UCLA

UCSB turned in a great effort in Westwood but tired down the stretch in an 89-76 loss to 18th ranked UCLA.

The Gauchos were tied at 65 with UCLA with just over eight minutes to play but the fresher Bruins outscored UCSB 24-11 the rest of the way.

Santa Barbara played five guys over 30 minutes each and no one else more than eight minutes. The deeper Bruins played eight players 15 minutes or more and they wore down UCSB with a second-half press. The Gauchos had 17 turnovers to UCLA’s 7 and the Bruins outscored UCSB by 20 points at the free throw line. UCLA improved to 8-0 on the season.

UCSB did make 13 of 26 shots from beyond the three-point line. Alan Williams had a game-high 23 points for UCSB.

The Gauchos are now 3-3 and host Cal on Friday.