Cold Aggies face hot Gauchos in BracketBuster game

LOGAN — Santa Barbara coach Bob Williams said he was sad to see Utah State leave the Big West Conference in 2005.

He said the Aggies brought a lot to the league: good teams and a good atmosphere in which to play.

On the inside he had to be smiling, knowing he wouldn't have to go back to Logan.

Well, he's going back one more time.

The Gauchos (20-6) travel to Utah State for tonight's game, which is part of ESPN's BracketBuster event.

When Utah State coach Stew Morrill invited him back to play home-and-home, Williams always balked.

Now he doesn't have a choice.

"I have teased him of those comments and have reminded him of those comments, and he just kind of laughs," Morrill said. "But when push came to shove in trying to play a home-and-home it hasn't happened, and that's what I've teased him about."

Why would a coach bring his team into an arena by choice when the home team has lost only 12 games there in the last 10 years, and are 14-0 there this season.

"If you're in his shoes, you can play a lot of teams a lot closer (to home), a lot easier travel, maybe not near as good of a homecourt advantage and those kinds of things."

The game tips off at 7 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPNU.

The Gauchos have been just as successful as just about anyone. They are one of 12 teams to beat Utah State in Logan in the last 10 years. That win came in 1999.

UCSB is currently in third place in the Big West Conference. The Gauchos have won 8 of their last 10 games, and overall they have won their last five road games, including a win over Pacific on Wednesday night. UCSB is the only team in the BWC with 20 wins and it is tied with Northridge with six losses.

"They are a senior-laden team with a lot of experience," Morrill said of the Gauchos, who enter the game having won three straight.

The Aggies (18-9) on the other hand, have lost three games in the row, and Santa Barbara was last team to beat them in Utah State's last three-game losing streak.

Alex Harris leads the Gauchos in scoring at 20.2 points per game, and Morrill said Harris reminds him of one of the better players in the Western Athletic Conference.

"We compare him to (Nevada's) Marcelus Kemp," Morrill said. "He shoots 3s, he goes by you, he brings it on the break. He's a really good player.

Also leading UCSB is Chris DeVine (12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds) and James Powell (11.7 points, 3.0 rebounds).

The Aggies lead the all-time series 36-22, including 20-6 record at home. The Aggies have won the last four games played in the series and 10 of the last 12.

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Aggies on the air

UC Santa Barbara (20-6) at Utah State (18-9) Today, 7 p.m., Smith Spectrum TV: ESPNU Radio: 610 AM, 95.9 FM (Logan), 1320 or 1230 AM (S.L.)

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com