UC Santa Barbara Slips by CS Northridge, 67-60

There were so many reasons, so many ways Cal State Northridge might have expected to lose to UC Santa Barbara in the opening round of the Gaucho Classic.

Getting outscored, 26-11, at the free-throw line could not have been very high on the list.

Santa Barbara, which is expected to be among the top teams in the Big West Conference, scored seven consecutive points in the last 1 minute 53 seconds to beat the Matadors, 67-60, at the Santa Barbara Events Center on Friday night.

Paul Johnson, a 6-foot-6 senior, tied a Santa Barbara record by making 17 of 18 free throws. The Gauchos missed only five of 31 free throws, and Northridge made only nine of 20.

Santa Barbara, playing its opener, led by as many as eight points in the first half, but Northridge battled back.

A 15-foot jump shot by Brooklyn McLinn allowed the Matadors to catch Santa Barbara, 60-60, with 3:08 to play. But the basket was Northridge’s last and the Gauchos scored on their next four possessions.

Johnson, who finished with a game-high 21 points, made a 15-foot baseline jump shot to give the Gauchos the lead with 1:53 to play. Johnson, a redshirt last season after shoulder surgery, then made two free throws with 58 seconds remaining.

Santa Barbara will meet Stephen F. Austin (2-0), a 72-60 winner over Eastern Washington, in the championship game tonight at 8. Northridge will play Eastern Washington at 6.