Box Score
Video: Final play of regulation

Fresno Pacific was seconds away from defeating NCAA Division 1 UC Santa Barbara, but a last-second putback layup sent the game into overtime where the Sunbirds would fall 75-67.

Deshaun Legree and Matt Christman led the charge in the near-upset, scoring 21 and 17 points respectively and knocking down five three-pointers each.

FPU led 62-57 with 1:45 remaining, but the Big West-favorite Gauchos got a three from James Nunally to draw within two and would hold the Sunbirds scoreless the rest of the way. The Sunbirds had two turnovers and a missed three-pointer during their last three possessions, but still led 62-60 heading into the game's final possession.

UCSB called a 30-second timeout with 10 seconds left, then looked to Big West player of the year Orlando Johnson, who airballed a contested three-pointer. Guard Jordan Weiner then made a heads up play, running and catching the ball and flipping up a reverse layup just before the horn sounded.

"If that shot hits the rim the game's over," said FPU coach Chris Wright, who was very pleased with his team's performance and execution of their gameplan. "We came in wanting to emphasize good ball movement and really make them guard us. Adam [Kado] did a good job of running our team. We were extra patient and executed well offensively."

FPU played extremely well defensively all day against the much taller and more athletic Gauchos, but UCSB finally got its offense going in the overtime. Jon Pastorek opened with a three on the first possesion and Kendall Holmes answered with a bucket inside for FPU.

Nunally hit a three on the ensuing possession and the Sunbirds would be unable to capitalize on some good looks from long-range. They were still within striking distance with 1:10 to play down 69-65, but the Gauchos would make free-throws down the stretch to close it out.

Nunally led the Gauchos with 19 points and Greg Somogyi added 16. Johnson finished with 12 points and seven assists.

In addition to Legree and Christman's scoring, FPU got a game-high 11 rebounds from Jordan Wild, five assists from Christman, and eight points apiece from Holmes and Jerante Morgan.

Legree and Christman got hot from beyond the arc early on and the team led by as many as nine points, 23-14 with 11 minutes left in the half. UCSB would use a 16-2 run and take a five-point lead, before a layup by Wild stopped the run and a three-pointer by Christman helped bring the team within 33-31 heading into the locker room.

The Sunbirds came out strong in the second half, getting a basket from Morgan and a three-pointer from Kado to take the lead. Legree would continue his hot shooting in the second half, allowing FPU to lead from the final 18:50 until the closing seconds.

"I'm really proud of how we competed," said Wright. "Our goal with these two exhibitions is to get better as a team and I really believe we got better today."

The Sunbirds travel immediately to Utah for a tougher test tomorrow night at NCAA #16 BYU. Game time is set for 6 pm (PST).