Vaqueros Fall to Ventura in Conference Opener

SANTA BARBARA – After having three straight games postponed due to COVID-19 policies, the SBCC men's basketball team got back to action for the first time in a month on Monday at the Sports Pavilion. The Vaqueros were defeated 93-67 by a talented Ventura team that had started the season with 12 straight wins.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st Half

• The Pirates (13-2) opened things up with a 9-2 lead. Forward Adam Weingard hit a deep three to beat the shot clock and hit another jumper to make it 11-7 several minutes later.
• SBCC (5-10) battled hard to stay within striking distance. Point guard Wilfrid Nado and forward Jon Pearson had some strong takes to the basket against an imposing and athletic interior defense, keeping the deficit under double-digits at 19-11 with 11:15 to go in the half.
• However, Ventura turned on the gas, breaking the game open with a 10-0 run to go up 29-11. An Adrian McIntye layup in the final minute matched their largest first half lead of 15 points, 41-26 heading into the break.
• Pearson ended the half with a team-high 11 points on 5-of-9 from the field, while Nado put in eight points.

2nd Half

• Ventura's remained aggressive to open the second half, getting all the way up on SBCC's ball handlers.
• The Vaqueros shot a better percentage in the second half (44.4%), but allowed the Pirates to shoot a staggering 71.4 percent. The lead grew to 30 points with just under seven minutes to go.

NOTABLE

• SBCC outrebounded Ventura 36-30, and had just one more turnover (19-18). Forward Brycyn Gossett led the team with three steals while reaching double-figures for the fourth time this year with 10 points.
• Pearson led the team in scoring with 17 points (7-13 FG), three shy of a season-high. He is shooting 60 percent from the field over his last two outings.
• Nado was second on the team with 13 points. He and Weingard both had two assists.
• Forward Luke Sinclair had a season-high eight rebounds and was 1-for-1 from deep, hitting his first three-pointer on his second attempt this season.

NEXT UP
The Vaqueros are home again on Wednesday, Jan. 12 to face Cuesta at 5:00 p.m.