Powell scores 22 to help UC Santa Barbara beat UC Davis 76-62, advance to Big West finals

UC Santa Barbara takes 76-62 win over UC Davis

ANAHEIM, Calif. — James Powell scored 22 points to lead UC Santa Barbara to a 76-62 victory over UC Davis in the Big West Conference tournament Friday night.

James Nunnally added 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the top-seeded Gauchos (19-9), who have won eight of their last nine games. Orlando Johnson, the Big West’s player of the year and leading scorer, had 13 points.

UC Santa Barbara will play either second-seeded Pacific or third-seeded Long Beach State on Saturday for the championship.

Joe Harden had 20 points and seven rebounds for the fourth-seeded Aggies (14-18). Dominic Calegari added 18 points and Julian Welch scored 17 points.