UC Santa Barbara wins Big West tournament

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Orlando Johnson scored 23 points to lead UC Santa Barbara to a 64-56 win over top-seeded Long Beach State on Saturday night in the championship game of the Big West tournament.

Fourth-seeded Santa Barbara (18-13), which beat Long Beach State in last year's conference tournament, earned its second consecutive trip to the NCAAs.

Long Beach State (22-11) fell behind by 10 in the first half before clawing back to tie it at 27 at halftime. Santa Barbara took control with a 14-4 run midway through the second half.

The 49ers pulled within six points in the closing minutes, but a 3-pointer by Jon Pastorek with a second left on the shot clock and pair of free throws by James Nunnally gave the Gauchos a 61-50 lead with 1:19 left.