Vaqueros stun first-place Cuesta, 85-80

Freshman guard Tejon Williams posted season highs of 28 points and 16 rebounds on Saturday night, leading SBCC to an 85-80 upset of first-place Cuesta in a WSC North men's basketball game in San Luis Obispo.

Evan Tillman, a 6-8 freshman forward, added 21 points and six rebounds. He hit 5-10 from the field and 10-12 from the charity stripe. Williams connected on 9-15 from the field, 2-3 on 3-pointers and 8-9 on free throws. Robert Hutchins scored 15 for Santa Barbara, which snapped Cuesta's 14-game conference win streak.

SBCC made 18-of-21 free throws in the final 20 minutes.

Cuesta had beaten the Vaqueros twice this season and handed the Vaqueros their worst WSC loss, 83-54 on Jan. 13.

The Vaqueros (7-15, 2-6) outshot the home team 44.1 to 23.3 percent in the first half and built a 36-21 lead. The margin grew to 19 (46-27) with 16 minutes to play before the Cougars (20-8, 7-2) started a comeback that shaved the deficit to three points in the closing minutes.

Cuesta is tied for first with Moorpark atop the WSC North, one game ahead of Ventura with three to play. Roberto Mantovani topped the Cougars with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

The Cougars turned the tables in the second half, erupting for 59 points and outshooting SBCC 58 to 48 percent. Santa Barbara shot a shade better for the game (46 to 43 percent) and made 22-of-27 from the free-throw line compared to 14-21 for Cuesta.

Santa Barbara has two home games next week – Wednesday vs. Oxnard and Saturday vs. Moorpark. Tip-off is 7 p.m. for both games.