Friday, November 28
Las Vegas, Nev.
4:30 PM
Lehigh University
2-6,0-0Patriot
70
vs
72
UC Santa Barbara
5-2,0-0Big West
1
2
F
UC Santa Barbara
33
39
72
Lehigh
34
36
70
Photo by: Clark Boinis
Lehigh Falls Short To UCSB At The Buzzer 72-70
11/28/2025 7:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LAS VEGAS – The Resorts World Las Vegas Classic kicked off on Friday afternoon for Lehigh men's basketball in game one against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. The Mountain Hawks had a chance to win at the buzzer, but the Gauchos ultimately came away with a narrow 72-70 victory.
"[UCSB] is a nationally ranked opponent that I thought played very well," said Murray H. Goodman '48 head coach Brett Reed. "The biggest indicators of the game were our turnovers in the first half and offensive rebounding in the second half. Our guys were battling and fighting, but we just can't give them extra opportunities."
The Resorts World Las Vegas Classic is the first multi-team event that Lehigh (2-6) has competed in since the Legends Classic in 2013. Seattle University and Texas State are the two other programs playing at the event. UCSB entered the tournament ranked #24 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
Lehigh's defense was effective to open the contest, limiting UCSB (5-2) to 1-7 from the field through the first five minutes to hold a 10-2 lead. The Gauchos rallied back to cut the lead to one, but a Jalen Vazquez three put Lehigh ahead 14-10 at the under 12 media timeout.
The Mountain Hawks built upon their advantage deep into the first half, leading 28-18 with 6:04 to play. The Gauchos rallied back, scoring 12 points off turnovers in the half to lead 33-32 with under a minute to play. Two late free throws from sophomore Hank Alvey put the Mountain Hawks in front by one entering the locker room.
UCSB began the second half on a 6-0 run to lead by five through the first three minutes, prompting a Lehigh timeout. Junior Nasir Whitlock helped bring the deficit to three after knocking down a triple and hitting three at the line with 15:25 remaining. Lehigh kept pace with UCSB thanks to effective shooting from deep, as a Joshua Ingram three brought the Mountain Hawks within two with 11:22 to play.
The Mountain Hawks and Gauchos traded buckets over the next several minutes, with Lehigh eventually tying the game at 55 courtesy of two Whitlock free throws. UCSB found points at the line as well, hitting free throws to lead 63-57 with 4:51 remaining. Lehigh then stormed back on a 7-0 run by Alvey and Whitlock to regain a 64-63 lead.
The score changed hands two more times in the ensuing two minutes, with Lehigh eventually trailing 70-67 with under a minute to play. With 11 seconds left on the clock, Whitlock nailed a triple to tie the contest at 70 apiece before two Miro Little free throws put UCSB ahead 72-70 with 3.8 seconds left. Whitlock got a three-pointer off at the buzzer for the win, but the shot bounced off the back iron.
Lehigh posted shooting splits of 41.3% (19-46) from the field, 40.7% (11-27) from three and 91.3% (21-23) from the free throw line. UCSB shot 37.5% (21-56) from the floor, 16.7% (2-12) from distance and 87.5% (28-32) from the charity stripe. The Gauchos controlled the rebounding margin 37-28 and outscored the Mountain Hawks in the paint 30-12. Lehigh assisted on a staggering 78.9% of its field goals.
Alvey set a new career-high of 22 points while adding six rebounds, three assists and two made triples. Whitlock posted a 21-point performance with three assists and three made triples. Alvey and Whitlock became the first Lehigh duo to both score 20+ since Whitlock and Tyler Whitney-Sidney last season on February 26 against Boston U.
"[Hank] did a great job for us," said Reed. "He was taking on a tough defensive assignment, scoring on the interior, made two perimeter shots, and drew seven fouls. Between him and Nas generating 12 fouls drawn, that's a big part of the game."
Ingram added eight points, three rebounds and two assists. Vazquez impressed in front of a large crowd of family and friends. The Carson, California native scored six points while dishing out five assists in 22 minutes. Junior Jake Pike played a career-high 18 minutes, hauling in four rebounds.
Little led the way for the Gauchos, scoring 20 points while going 10-10 from the free throw line. Hosana Kitenge (12p), Aidan Mahaney (11p), and Zion Sensley (10p) joined Little in double-figures.
The Mountain Hawks will play Texas State in the Resorts World Las Vegas Classic consolation game at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 29.
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
"[UCSB] is a nationally ranked opponent that I thought played very well," said Murray H. Goodman '48 head coach Brett Reed. "The biggest indicators of the game were our turnovers in the first half and offensive rebounding in the second half. Our guys were battling and fighting, but we just can't give them extra opportunities."
The Resorts World Las Vegas Classic is the first multi-team event that Lehigh (2-6) has competed in since the Legends Classic in 2013. Seattle University and Texas State are the two other programs playing at the event. UCSB entered the tournament ranked #24 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
Lehigh's defense was effective to open the contest, limiting UCSB (5-2) to 1-7 from the field through the first five minutes to hold a 10-2 lead. The Gauchos rallied back to cut the lead to one, but a Jalen Vazquez three put Lehigh ahead 14-10 at the under 12 media timeout.
The Mountain Hawks built upon their advantage deep into the first half, leading 28-18 with 6:04 to play. The Gauchos rallied back, scoring 12 points off turnovers in the half to lead 33-32 with under a minute to play. Two late free throws from sophomore Hank Alvey put the Mountain Hawks in front by one entering the locker room.
UCSB began the second half on a 6-0 run to lead by five through the first three minutes, prompting a Lehigh timeout. Junior Nasir Whitlock helped bring the deficit to three after knocking down a triple and hitting three at the line with 15:25 remaining. Lehigh kept pace with UCSB thanks to effective shooting from deep, as a Joshua Ingram three brought the Mountain Hawks within two with 11:22 to play.
The Mountain Hawks and Gauchos traded buckets over the next several minutes, with Lehigh eventually tying the game at 55 courtesy of two Whitlock free throws. UCSB found points at the line as well, hitting free throws to lead 63-57 with 4:51 remaining. Lehigh then stormed back on a 7-0 run by Alvey and Whitlock to regain a 64-63 lead.
The score changed hands two more times in the ensuing two minutes, with Lehigh eventually trailing 70-67 with under a minute to play. With 11 seconds left on the clock, Whitlock nailed a triple to tie the contest at 70 apiece before two Miro Little free throws put UCSB ahead 72-70 with 3.8 seconds left. Whitlock got a three-pointer off at the buzzer for the win, but the shot bounced off the back iron.
Lehigh posted shooting splits of 41.3% (19-46) from the field, 40.7% (11-27) from three and 91.3% (21-23) from the free throw line. UCSB shot 37.5% (21-56) from the floor, 16.7% (2-12) from distance and 87.5% (28-32) from the charity stripe. The Gauchos controlled the rebounding margin 37-28 and outscored the Mountain Hawks in the paint 30-12. Lehigh assisted on a staggering 78.9% of its field goals.
Alvey set a new career-high of 22 points while adding six rebounds, three assists and two made triples. Whitlock posted a 21-point performance with three assists and three made triples. Alvey and Whitlock became the first Lehigh duo to both score 20+ since Whitlock and Tyler Whitney-Sidney last season on February 26 against Boston U.
"[Hank] did a great job for us," said Reed. "He was taking on a tough defensive assignment, scoring on the interior, made two perimeter shots, and drew seven fouls. Between him and Nas generating 12 fouls drawn, that's a big part of the game."
Ingram added eight points, three rebounds and two assists. Vazquez impressed in front of a large crowd of family and friends. The Carson, California native scored six points while dishing out five assists in 22 minutes. Junior Jake Pike played a career-high 18 minutes, hauling in four rebounds.
Little led the way for the Gauchos, scoring 20 points while going 10-10 from the free throw line. Hosana Kitenge (12p), Aidan Mahaney (11p), and Zion Sensley (10p) joined Little in double-figures.
The Mountain Hawks will play Texas State in the Resorts World Las Vegas Classic consolation game at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 29.
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
UCSB
Lehigh
FG%
.375
.413
3FG%
.167
.407
FT%
.875
.913
RB
37
28
TO
9
12
STL
10
3
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
21
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
8
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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