UC Santa Barbara wins back-and-forth Big West battle with Long Beach State, 64-62

UC Santa Barbara tips Long Beach State 64-62

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Jaime Serna scored 17 points to lead UC Santa Barbara to a 64-62 victory over Long Beach State Saturday.

Will Brew scored 12 points, all in the first half, and Orlando Johnson 11 for the Gauchos (14-8, 9-3), who stayed in a first-place tie with Pacific in the Big West. Johnson made a free throw with 44 seconds to play for the only scoring in the game’s final minute.

James Nunnally had nine points and seven rebounds, and his free throw with 1:27 to play put Santa Barbara ahead for good. He later missed two free throws but stole the ball to preserve the win. The game was tied 11 times and neither team led by more than six points at any time.

T. J. Robinson had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the 49ers (12-13, 6-6) and Stephan Gilling was the game’s leading scorer with 17 points.