Merrill Leads UCSB Past Long Beach State

Josh Merrill scored a career-high 31 points as UC Santa Barbara beat Long Beach State, 87-77, Thursday night in a Big West basketball game at Santa Barbara.

B.J. Bunton recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Derrick Allen had seven steals for UC Santa Barbara (10-11, 8-3).

Long Beach State (10-12, 7-5) took an early 6-4 advantage two minutes into the game, but it was the 49ers’ only lead.

UC Santa Barbara used a 15-8 run to lead 25-14 early in the first half and took a 41-29 advantage at halftime. The Gauchos held Long Beach State to 8.3% shooting from three-point range, well below their season average of 32 percent.

The 49ers never got closer than 10 points in the second half, with the Gauchos leading by as many as 20.

Ramel Lloyd led Long Beach State with 24 points while Mate Milisa added 18 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Pacific 94, Cal Poly 83--Scott Thomason scored a career-high 25 points to lead Pacific (12-9, 4-7) at San Luis Obispo.

Cal Poly (9-13, 4-7) led by as many as seven points, 58-51, but consecutive baskets by Jason Williams gave Pacific the lead for good at 66-64.

Idaho 82, New Mexico State 78--Avery Curry scored 22 points and the Vandals (13-9, 8-4) made 30 of 48 free throws in holding off New Mexico State (15-8, 8-3) at Moscow, Idaho.

Boise State 67, North Texas 55--Roberto Bergersen scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures for Boise State (16-5, 9-2) at Boise. North Texas fell to 1-20, 1-10.