Gauchos Get Hat Trick, Defeating 49ers for Third Time

UC Santa Barbara disproved the theory that the odds are often against a team trying to beat another for the third time in the same season.

The Gauchos, who had defeated Cal State Long Beach by 1 point and 11 points during the regular season, eliminated the 49ers from the Big West Conference tournament, 69-57, Thursday afternoon at the Long Beach Arena.

Coach Jerry Pimm, whose team improved to 21-7, didn’t believe the theory, anyway. “It really didn’t go through our minds,” he said. “You just line up and play hard. I felt our preparation was solid.”

Both teams concentrated on working the ball inside. The Gauchos, who shot 55%, had an easy time doing that. The 49ers, who shot 43%, had a hard time.

“We got the ball inside pretty good; that’s the key for us,” Pimm said.

Santa Barbara took control of the game midway through the first half. In six minutes, the Gauchos went from a 17-14 deficit to a 30-19 lead. Eric McArthur scored nine points and Mike Doyle five during that run, which was aided by a technical foul on Long Beach Coach Joe Harrington.

The 49ers, who finished the season 13-15, trailed at halftime, 38-29. But a series of power moves by reserve center Marco Fleming helped cut the lead to 44-41 six minutes into the second half.

Carrick DeHart came back with a baseline jumper for the Gauchos, and after Bobby Sears scored for Long Beach, DeHart hit from the wing for a five-point edge.

Saved from danger momentarily, the Gauchos pulled away quickly. Frank Johnson converted a rebound into a basket. Doyle made a layup after breaking the all-court press. Doyle fed Lucius Davis for a lay-in, then scored inside himself. A three-point play by DeHart topped off the surge.

The score was 59-48 with 6:02 to play, and Harrington conceded. “With six minutes to go, we started preparing for next season,” he said.

Fleming led all scorers with 20 points.