SANTA BARBARA--- In their first of two exhibition games against Big West Conference members, it was the visiting SF State Gators falling 67-51 to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at the Thunder Dome in Santa Barbara this evening.  SF State held the Gauchos to just 43% shooting from the field including 33% from three-point shooting in both team's exhibition opener of the 2011-12 season.
 
“We played a really good 36 minutes and just ran out of gas in the final four minutes,” said head coach Paul Trevor.  “We had outstanding performances from Chad Delaney, Nefi Perdomo and Griffin Reilly.”
 
Nefi Perdomo led the Gators with a game high 20 points on 7 of 21 shooting from the field while going 3 of 9 from three-point range.  The 2010-11 All-CCAA First Team performer also had a team high 6 rebounds and three assists to go along with his two steals.  Griffin Reilly added 16 points going 5 of 10 from the field and 4 of 8 from three-point land.
 
UC Santa Barbara, who had four players in double figures, took a 17-6 lead in the first ten minutes of the game. 
 
SF State then cut the lead to 17-10 with 7:38 mark as Chad Delaney scored on a lay-up off an assist from Perdomo.  The Gauchos then went on an 11-2 run in the next four minutes to take a 28-12 lead on a three by James Nunnally, who finished with 13 points.
 
Perdomo's three with 1:27 to go in the half cut the Gaucho lead to 30-20, which the score was going into the half. 
 
SF State opened the second half with a 13-2 run as Reilly scored 8 points including two free throws at the 16:36 mark to give the Gators a 33-32 lead. 
 
The Gauchos retook the lead, 35-33, on a three by John Greene on their next possession.  They increased that lead to 39-33 on a lay-up by Thomas Lewis with 15:15 on the clock. 
 
SF State cut that lead to one, 43-42, as the Gators went on a 9-4 run capped by another three by Reilly. 
 
The Gators kept their deficit to just one possession, 47-45, on Casey James' three with 9:39 to go in the game.  Then the hosts went on a 13-1 run to take a 60-46 lead on two made throws by John Green with just 4:23 to go in the game. 
 
SF State would not go away as Perdomo hit a three with 2:27 left in regulation to cut the lead to single digits, 60-51, but the Gauchos finished the game on a 7-0 run to take the 67-51 exhibition win.
 
The Gators had 39 rebounds as did the Gauchos and forced 14 turnovers by their opponents.  

John Green paced the Gauchos with 17 points in 19 minutes off the bench while grabbing a game high 8 rebounds.
 
“We did a nice job on the glass,” said the second-year head coach.  “This evening was a good experience for our younger guys.”
 
SF State will travel to Stockton, Calif., this Wed., Nov. 9 for its final exhibition game this season at 7pm against the University of Pacific.  The Gators will open up their 2011-12 regular season a week from today as they travel to Chico, Calif., to participate in the Carl's Jr. Mac Martin Tournament of Chico State University.  They will face the Academy of Art in the opening game of the tournament at 12:30pm.   

Box Score