Big West Tournament Live Blog!

Hello everyone, and welcome to Anaheim. We’ll keep you updated in today’s men’s and women’s semi-finals as the action goes.

Check in every couple of minutes for instant analysis on all the action, starting right before tipoff.

Men’s Semifinal: #1 UCSB  defeats #4 UC Davis 76-62

8:35 p.m.: Final thoughts: Both teams showed great resiliency in this one, but James Powell stabilizes SB in the end and gets the Gaucho win. He’s clearly the MVP with 22 points and a 9-10 clip at the free throw line. I’m signing off, but thanks for following everyone! See you tomorrow!

8:33 p.m.: It’s over! The Gauchos advance despite the scare, going to their second-ever Big West Tournament final! Welch drains a meaningless buzzer-beating two to narrow the final deficit to 14. SB wins 76-62 and will play the winner of UOP-LBSU tonight. Go Gauchos!

8:31 p.m.: Powell gets the inbound but Davis draws the jump-ball. SB maintains possession, inbounds and breaks the press, and Serna gets a last dunk for posterity. Calegari fouls after a miss for no reason, sending UCSB to the line with 6.7 remaining and ahead by 6.7. OJ misses the first but makes the second.

8:30 p.m.: Ranger nails a shot for the Aggies, and UCSB calls timeout to try and draw up a play to Powell. SB has one timeout left, while Davis has none. 73-60 with 31.6 seconds left.

8:30 p.m.: Guess what? James Powell makes both shots.

8:28 p.m.: Welch makes both free throws, and the Gauchos get it to Powell yet again. He’s fouled and will go to the line. Ryan Sypkens has fouled out.

8:26 p.m.: SB gets it in to Powell again, he’s quickly fouled. He swishes them both. Remember how Powell is clutch?  Will Brew then picks up a steal and goes coast to coast for the game-clincher. 71-56 with 43 seconds to go as Serna fouls Welch underneath.

8:25 p.m.: Harden nails a BIG contested three. Davis not done yet, but 11 points in 59 seconds is a tall task. 67-56, Gaucho ball.

8:24 p.m.: Powell hits both very casually, and now has 18 points. Ice in his veins.

8:23 p.m.: SB inbounds after a timeout and Powell is quickly fouled. Not who the Aggies wanted to foul by any means.

8:21 p.m.: Serna emphatically caps his performance with a big and-1 after the press-break. He misses the free throw, and Davis quickly comes back and nails a short hook. 65-53, 1:12 to go.

8:20 p.m.: Harden gets a bucket and the foul on JP (his third). His free throw is good, and it’s a 12-point game again with 1:29 to go. Will Davis foul?

8:18 p.m.: Nunnally makes a tough shot underneath, and then SB forces a jump ball. Davis maintains possession and calls timeout. 100 seconds to go, SB up by 15 and on the verge of reaching its second-ever Big West final. Knock on wood.

8:17 p.m.: SB Turns it over, and Davis misses its shot. 13 points still with 2:12 to go and it’s Gaucho ball.

8:16 p.m.: Will Brew nails his shot, and the Gauchos pick up a steal. 13-point lead and possession, with 3:00 to go.

8:13 p.m. Welch nails a three, but Davis’ celebration is short-lived. Will Brew makes a tough layup and gets fouled. 60-48, with Will Brew shooting one after the timeout.

8:12 p.m.: Big-Game James gets fouled on a fast-break after a miss by Davis. Rattles the first one home, swishes the second. He’s scored the last ten, and is so clutch. So very, very clutch.

8:10 p.m.: After a Davis timeout, Will Brew accidentally pokes Calegari in the eye. No foul called — very odd. Calegari is beaten up but OK.

8:09 p.m.: Big game James yet again! Tough three, knocks it down! Then a turnover and Powell nails a wide-open layup. The senior scores 8-straight and boosts the lead to 11. 56-45 with 4:50 to go. Wow.

8:07 p.m.: BIG SHOT JAMES POWELL. Contested three gives the Gauchos an 8-point lead. An off-ball foul gives Davis another 1 and 1. Johnson, Brew and Serna all have three fouls. Welch hits both free throws. 51-45 with 5:51 remaining.

8:06 p.m.: Serna misses his shot from the paint, Brew fouls on the rebound. Lowenthal goes to the line for a 1 and 1. He misses the front end — a huge break for SB.

8:05 p.m.: Welch nails a tough tear-drop. Davis on fire from the floor.

8:04 p.m.: Orlando makes both free throws, it’s 48-41.

8:03 p.m.: Davis shooting 10-19 and 3-3 from deep this half. Orlando gets a steal and gets fouled on his breakaway.

8:01 p.m.: Harden nails a mid-ranger, it’s 5 points and the Gauchos turn it over. Sub-8 timeout, SB clinging on for dear life.

8:00 p.m.: Calegari hits a tough hook. Serna responds with a tougher hook of his own. 46-39.

7:59 p.m.: OJ slams it with authority on a breakaway. Big shot.

7:58 p.m.: Nunnally steps on the sideline, Davis in possession with 9:30 to go and down five.

7:57 p.m.: Harden swishes a long-range two to cut the lead to five again.

7:56 p.m.: Nunnally gets fouled, makes both free throws.

7:55 p.m.: Calegari gets fouled by Serna and makes both free throws. 40-35.

7:54 p.m.: After a timeout, Gauchos inbound looking to extend their 7-point lead but Serna bricks a shot in the paint.

7:51 p.m.: Good passing gives Roemer an open three, but it goes halfway down and pops out. Davis misses on its possession.

7:50 p.m.: Coast-to-coast for Julian Welch. 40-33.

7:49 p.m.: Tough jumper for OJ, and he nails it. 40-31.

7:47 p.m.: Orlando checks back in after a timeout. Will he take over? Meanwhile, Serna makes a big shot on a 2-second inbounds play. 38-29.

7:45 p.m.: Davis has outscored SB 18-5 in the first 6:05 of the second half. Keep in mind they had only 11 after 20 minutes.

7:44 p.m.: All the bounces are going Davis’ way now. 7 points is the difference.

7:42 p.m.: Nunnally knocks down a two but Calegari responds with a big three. He’s taking over.

7:41 p.m.: Somogyi blocks a shot but the rebound goes right to Calegari who gets an easy put-back. It’s a ten point game.

7:40 p.m.: Howley is fouled on a put-back attempt, makes one of two. Gauchos make mass subs but commit a 10-second violation on the ensuing possession.

7:39 p.m.: Sypkins picks up his fourth personal! He checks out, but SB turns it over. Don’t look now, but Davis is making a run.

7:38 p.m.: Sypkins picks up his third foul for the Aggies, but minutes later Calegari nails another three. 34-21.

7:36 p.m.: Orlando commits his third personal… if this game gets close that could be big. Harden makes both shots with blood on his face.

7:35 p.m.: Calegari scores again, this time underneath. Davis looks better on offense now, but it would be hard to look worse.

7:34 p.m.: Nunnally fouled on a fastbreak and makes one of two free throws. 34-14.

7:33 p.m.: The first half will not be like the second. Calegari actually hits a three, breaking his 0-6 start.

7:31 p.m.: The blue horse the Aggies call a mascot is nothing short of horrifying. Keep it away from the children.

7:30 p.m.: After some good UCD defense forces a Gaucho inbound, a perfect inbounds play springs Nunnally underneath for a fairly easy layup. 33-11 SB.

7:29 p.m.: Second half underway. Gauchos with possession to start.

7:28 p.m.: Halftime almost over — 31-11 UCSB. Davis shooting 18.2% and is 0-7 from three. UCSB at 40.7%. UCD has only 2 assists and 10 TOs. SB at 7 and 6, respectively. Dominating half, let’s see if the Gauchos can keep it up.

7:13 p.m.: SB gets the ball after a JP miss. 8 second inbounds play ends with a BIG Nunnally 3-ball from NBA range. Gauchos up 31-11 at half. I wouldn’t want to be in the Davis locker room right now.

7:11 p.m.: Bob Williams calls timeout as the Gauchos have the ball with 40 seconds to go and 33 on the shot clock. Trying to extend this 17 point lead.

7:11 p.m.: Harden tries unsuccessfully to post up Somogyi. This is a good matchup to watch definitely.

7:10 p.m.: Nunnally misses a second-chance layup and Harden nails a midrange jumper . Only 1:30 to go and Orlando gets an offensive foul. That’s his second. Davis ball, 28-11.

7:07 p.m.: ALLEYOOP FROM SOMOGYI! Huge. Absolutely huge.

7:07 p.m.: Timeout on the floor with 3:19 left. Gauchos up big but Davis beginning to get at least a little rhythm offensively. 26-9 right now, and UCSB getting solid play both from the starters and the bench.

7:04 p.m.: Harden finally finds some space underneath and notches an easy layup. Orlando responds with a quick three ball.

7:03 p.m.: Another steal for Powell and SB, he gets fouled on the way to the hoop and shoots two. Makes one of two with 4:30 remaining. 23-7 SB.

7:01 p.m.: Powell almost gets a block but is called for the foul. Harden shoots two free throws and makes one.

7:00 p.m.: SB gets a steal, Brew goes hard to the rim and gets fouled dangerously. Makes one of two free throws. 22-6 with 5:40 remaining.

6:59 p.m.: Powell hits a long three; SB gets a stop, and Nunn scores underneath. 21-6 SB.

6:58 p.m.: Right out of the break, Powell hits a long two with his foot on the line. Then Ryan Howley goes strong to the hoop and notches Davis’ second field goal.

6:55 p.m.: Media timeout. 14-4 with 7:47 remaining in the first half. Outrageous defense from UCSB so far, but poor execution on offense. Somogyi has five rebounds, while no one on UCSB has more than four points. Then again, that’s as many as Davis has total.

6:54 p.m.: UCSB’s defense has been smothering. Davis is 1-14 from the floor and all of those were heavily contested.

6:53 p.m.: Lot of subs in for SB right now. Let’s see if Davis takes advantage.

6:52 p.m.: Nunnally for three! Smooth stroke as Orlando checks out.

6:51 p.m.: Somogyi making his presence felt on the boards (of all places!) Then picks up another block with Orlando. Still 11-4, little over 10 remaining.

6:48 p.m.: Bodies are flying (mostly JJ’s). Can’t fault the teams for hustle.

6:47 p.m.: Davis makes its first field goal after Nunnally misses a layup. 11-4 SB.

6:46 p.m.: Orlando called for his first foul. He’s very aggressive tonight  but he needs to stay out of foul trouble.

6:44 p.m.: Big offensive board for Orlando and he gets the putback. 11-2 UCSB with 13:09 remaining. Looks like Somogyi’s second block didn’t count in the stats, but definitely look at it as an altered shot.

6:44 p.m.: Weiner picks up a steal and takes it coast to coast for two. 9-2 SB and Somogyi gets another block!

6:43 p.m.: Block by Somogyi! Asserting himself early.

6:42 p.m.: Scoring drought over. Joyner banks a free throw, then drains the second. 7-2 UCSB.

6:39 p.m.: Very sloppy so far. Media timeout right now, still 5-2 with 15:10 remaining in the 1st. Gauchos’ only points from Orlando and a Will Brew three.

6:37 p.m.: Jaime Serna picks up a second foul, this time on Calegari. Only 3:35 elapsed. Somogyi checks in. Calegari makes one. 5-2 UCSB.

6:36 p.m.: First foul of the Game, Serna fouls Harden on the shot. Harden makes one of two. 5-1 Gauchos, 16:50 left.

6:34 p.m.: Make it four turnovers in four possessions. No Davis shots 2 and a half minutes in.

6:33 p.m.: Gauchos have forced three Davis turnovers in three possessions.

6:33 p.m.: Orlando scores first on a long two, one minute in. 2-0 Gauchos.

6:31 p.m.: Tipoff!  Calegari beats Serna for first possession.

6:30 p.m.: Starting lineups:

UCD: Harden, Calegari, Lowenthal, Howley, Sipkens

UCSB: Serna, Weiner, Brew, Nunnally, Johnson

6:23 p.m.: We’ve had the national anthem, starting lineups are about to be announced, the ESPN crew is in the house… it’s Gaucho basketball time.

6:08 p.m.: John Greely here, just setting up as the teams are on the court and warming up. Ready for some Big West Tourney action!

Women’s Semifinal: . #1 UC Davis defeats #5 UCSB 63-53

1:45: Very frustrating game for the Gauchos. Last collegiate game for Gnekow, Franey, Williams, Spencer, and Goble. Disappointing finish for those players but a lot of great moments over the years for them to look back on. Your final score for the first Big West Semi: Davis advances 63-53 . A valiant comeback comes up short for the Gauchos…Remember to join us in just @6:30 for the top-seeded Men’s game against Davis.

1:37: 6-0 run by Davis and that may do it with 1:17 left. 59-51 Aggies as the top seed looks like they might end the Gauchos tournament run. Mekia Valentine continues to get harassed going for rebounds but can’t seem to buy a call

1:32: First make of the game by Ariana Gnekow and it’s a big one…3 ball straight on forces a timeout from Davis. 53-49 Aggies. Make that 53-51! Fastbreak layup by Meagan Williams! 2:50 left and we’ve got ourselves a ball game

1:30: Precious seconds ticking away. Four minutes left. Baskets by Valentine and Williams make it a 7 point game again.

1:23: 26 TOs on UCSB and a breakdown defensively leads to a wide open 3 for Davis. But Chris Spencer fouled shooting a 3 of her own. Currently a 10 point lead for Davis pending the free throws. Time out on the floor at the 7:33 mark

1:17: Big 3 ball from Chris Spencer then a fastbreak lay-up from Meagan Williams. Closest Gauchos have been since Mekia Valentine was pulled in the first half. UCSB down 7. 46-39. 10:48 left in regulation.

1:13: Gauchos draw within 8 momentarily. But the Aggies finally get on track with back to back scores. 12 point lead…46-34 with 12:12 remaining.

1:05: The first media timeout comes with 15:43 remaining in the second half. Gauchos playing with much more intensity limiting Davis to just two points so far. It’s a ten point game. 40-30

1:00: Gauchos on the board first in the second half. Franey with a nice free throw line jump shot. But two more TOs on UCSB both committed by Emelie Johson. UCD leads 38-26

12:44: Buzzer beating 3 pointer by Kasey Riecks for Davis makes it 38-24 at the half. Best thing about this first half for the Gauchos? That it’s over. 19 turnovers in the first 20 min is just one less than they had in the first two rounds COMBINED! First few minutes of the second half are going to be pivotal.

12:40: Largest lead so far for Davis at 11 pts. You have to wonder if the Gauchos are feeling the effects of playing the last two days. Halftime can’t come soon enough for Lindsay Gottlied. 1:30 left.

12:37: Turnover number 17 of the first half! A basket by Meagan Williams ends a 9-0 Davis run. 30-22 Aggies

12:33: Just as Mekia Valentine starts making her presence felt she gets whistled for her second foul and gets pulled by head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. Davis with a mini 5-0 run to go up 26-20.

12:27: Timeout on the floor at the 7:57 mark. Story of the first half so far? You guessed it. A remarkable 11 turnovers on UCSB! They look a little unsure on the offensive end with errant passes and shuffling feet. Gauchos shooting 50% from the field while Davis is at 41%. UCD still holds the lead 19-16.

12:24: Gauchos continue to turn the ball over. Back to back travel calls on Spencer and Valentine. Gauchos trail by 6…19-13

12:20: Emilie Johnson with a personal 5 point spurt draws the Gauchos within one. Both buckets coming off jumpers following Aggie turnovers. 14-13 UC Davis.

12:15: 14 minutes left in the first half. Gauchos looking to run early but 6 turnovers in 6 minutes isn’t going to cut it. Davis up 14-8

12:10: First timeout of the game. Meagan Williams off to another fast start but the Aggies up 10-6 thanks to two three-pointers from Paige Mintun.

12:04: Starting lineups have been announced. Mekia Valentine wins the opening tip. She’s been absolutely dominant on the defensive end through the first two rounds.

11:53: Seven minutes from opening tip…UCSB going for their third win in three days.

11:40: Welcome everyone, Marco Alfandary here checking in for some Big West action!