Big West favorite UC Santa Barbara hasn't gotten off to a great start with the conference season, losing to Long Beach State in the opener and then needing overtime to beat NAIA Fresno Pacific three days later.

To send the game into overtime, the Gauchos got a break. They put the ball in the hands of Orlando Johnson to try to win the game with a 3-pointer, and former walk-on Jordan Weiner was there to make something of nothing.

"I saw Orlando release the ball and thought it might be short," Weiner said in a statement. "I just happened to be in the right place and didn't really have time to think about what to do. It was basically instinct. I knew I had to get a shot off fast."

The little scoop shot might be just what the Gauchos need, as they're learning they can't ride just on the shoulders of Johnson and leading scorer James Nunnally.

UC Santa Barbara seemed to have things going after winning at UNLV last month, but has since gotten blown out at San Diego State and lost by 16 at home to Long Beach State.

Weiner's shot wasn't exactly Lorenzo Charles dunking off an air ball to win the national title for North Carolina State and Jim Valvano, but maybe a little luck is just what the Gauchos need to get back on track.