Box Score Santa Barbara, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team was looking to exorcise nearly 60 years worth of demons Thursday evening, and win for the first time ever at UC Santa Barbara, but the Gauchos broke open a close game midway through the second half to pick up an 83-75 win.

Since December 9, 1956, the Highlanders have made 20 trips up the coast to Santa Barbara, and each time they have gone home on the losing end. UCR hoped it would be different this season, as the Highlanders (9-10, 2-3) entered the week with a half game lead on the Gauchos (9-9, 2-2) in the conference standings. UC Santa Barbara was also without its leading scorer and 2013-14 Conference Player of the Year Alan Williams, who injured his shoulder in practice this week.

With Williams unavailable, it was expected that the Gauchos would become a more perimeter-oriented team on offense, and they were in the early going, making five of nine three-pointers in the first half.

The Highlanders matched them shot for shot making eight of 13 from long range, including three-for-three performances by Austin Quick and Steven Thornton. The Gauchos made up the difference with a five-point advantage at the free throw, and after nine ties and 11 lead chances, the teams entered the locker room at the break tied at 40.

Michael Bryson nearly has his season scoring average in the first half with 12 points, but Mitch Brewe was the wild card for UC Santa Barbara with 12 points—nearly nine more than his scoring average on the year.

UC Santa Barbara scored on its first three possessions of the second half to take its largest lead of the game to that point, 47-40, forcing Highlanders Head Coach Dennis Cutts to call timeout. Jaylen Bland ended the run with a pair of free throws on UC Riverside's next trip down the court, but UCSB scored eight straight points midway through the period to increase the lead to 15, 70-55, with 7:31 to go.

The Highlanders cut the lead to eight on a few occasions down the stretch, but that was as close as they would get. UC Riverside's advantage in the paint never materialized as the Gauchos led UC Riverside 32-18 in points in the paint, and 21-9 in second chance points.

John Green paced UCSB with 21 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Brewe added 18 for the Gauchos while Bryson chipped in with 16 and Zalmico Harmon scored 10.

Bland paced UC Riverside with 21 points, while Thornton scored 19, Taylor Johns added 14, and Quick scored 13.

The Highlanders remain on the road this week traveling to San Luis Obispo Saturday for a 7 pm PT tip at Cal Poly.