Santa Barbara Beats Irvine, 84-77

Branduinn Fullove led four players in double figures with 17 points, and UC Santa Barbara scored on eight consecutive possessions late in the second half to pull away for an 84-77 Big West Conference victory over UC Irvine on Monday night before 2,306 at the Bren Center.

Two nights after blowing a 21-point lead in a loss at Long Beach State, Santa Barbara shot 50% and made 22 of 30 free throws to notch its second-highest point total this season.

“Coming in, we were real fired up,” Fullove said. “It’s nice to get this one early in the [conference] season. We plan on getting better from here on out.”

The Gauchos (7-4, 1-1 in the Big West) took advantage of their deep lineup by getting 46 points from reserves. Cecil Brown had 15 points and backups Joe See and Cameron Goettsche each had 11.

With either a basket or free throws on those eight possessions, Santa Barbara gradually turned a 61-57 lead into a 77-66 advantage.

Irvine (6-5, 1-1) cut the deficit to 79-75 on Mike Efevberha’s three-point basket with 38.9 seconds left but couldn’t get any closer.

-- Eric Stephens

UC Riverside 78, CS Northridge 70 -- Guard Matt Benson did not lead UC Riverside in scoring, but his three consecutive three-point baskets in the first half helped propel the Highlanders in a Big West game at Riverside.

Benson, who finished with nine points, played a key role in a 22-2 run that helped Riverside turn a five-point deficit into a 36-19 lead at halftime.

In the second half, reserve Ted Bell scored 17 points for the Highlanders.

Riverside (4-6, 1-1) held Northridge to 26.9% shooting in the first half.

Northridge (5-5, 1-1) rallied late behind the shooting of Etogwa Onyenegachea, who scored all 22 of his game-high points in the second half.

-- Lonnie White

Utah 76, Pepperdine 69 -- Richard Chaney scored a career-high 27 points, and Nick Jacobson scored 18 at Salt Lake City to help Utah remain unbeaten at home.

Tim Drisdom scored 10 points and Justin Hawkins had 10 rebounds off the bench for the Utes (11-3), who improved to 7-0 at home this season.

Glen McGowan led Pepperdine (5-10) with 22 points. Shaun Davis scored 15 and Terrance Johnson had 14 points for the Waves, who lost their fourth straight.

Pepperdine cut a 10-point lead in the second half to four but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Pacific 66, CS Fullerton 64 -- David Doubley made a three-point shot with 1:10 left in overtime and Christian Maraker added a free throw with eight seconds remaining to lift Pacific in a Big West game at Fullerton.

Maraker had a game-high 26 points for Pacific (7-6, 2-0), which won its third in a row.

Fullerton (4-7, 0-2) dropped its third in a row.

Long Beach State 86, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 72 -- Jibril Hodges scored 21 points and Louis Darby had 20 -- both career highs -- and the 49ers won a Big West game at Long Beach.

Long Beach (4-7, 2-0) went on an 11-2 run to start the second half and built a 57-43 lead with 16:50 left.

Varnie Dennis had 18 points and 11 rebounds for San Luis Obispo (5-5, 0-2).