UC Santa Barbara beats Nebraska-Omaha 60-59 with late tip-in

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) John Green scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Eric Childress scored on a tip-in with three seconds left as UC Santa Barbara edged Omaha 60-59 in the season opener on Friday night.

Childress cleaned up after Mitch Brewe missed a layup, which capped a 9-1 run for the Gauchos in the last 4:19 as the Mavericks missed their last seven shots and made just one of four free throws.

Gabe Vincent, who had 16 points, started the run with a 3-pointer. Childress, who only had four points, made two free throws at 3:02. Tre'Shawn Thurman, who missed a long shot at the buzzer, made one of two free throws with 1:36 to play to make it 59-56 but Vincent answered with another basket.

Omaha missed two 3-pointers on the same possession before Justin Burks missed a 3 for Santa Barbara but T.J. Taylor grabbed the offensive rebound at 22 seconds.

Randy Reed led Omaha with 14 points.