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San Diego State holds off UC Santa Barbara 69-61

Dec 6, 2009 - 6:01 AM SANTA BARBARA, Calif.(AP) -- Tyrone Shelley scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebound, Malcolm Thomas added 15 points and San Diego State got by UC Santa Barbara 69-61 Saturday night.

Kawhi Leonard (nine rebounds) and D.J. Gay each finished with 13 points for the Aztecs (6-2), who shot 50.9 percent and never trailed.

James Powell hit six 3-pointers and led the Gauchos (4-2) with 20 points.

San Diego State led 43-34 with 15:30 remaining before UC Santa Barbara mounted its most serious charge, an 18-10 run to pull within 53-52.

The Aztecs quickly built their advantage back to nine, 62-53, with 7:18 to play, but the Gauchos wouldn't go away. They pulled to within three points twice in the final two minutes but couldn't get any closer.

San Diego State led by as many as 12 points in the first half but went into intermission only up 28-26.