UCSB Stays on Top

Guard Josh Davis made two free throws with 12 seconds left Thursday night as UC Santa Barbara escaped with a 63-60 victory over host Cal State Fullerton.

A three-point attempt at the buzzer by Fullerton guard Ralphy Holmes hit the front of the rim.

Davis’ free throws came after Fullerton guard Fedi Holm-Hadulla was whistled for an intentional foul. Santa Barbara was awarded the ball and with six seconds left Fullerton center Pape Sow stole a pass from Nick Jones. But Holmes never got a good look on his shot.

Santa Barbara (16-12, 13-4) is assured of no worse than a tie for the Big West Conference regular-season title. The Gauchos, who have won 11 of their last 13 conference games, also earned the top seeding in next week’s conference tournament.

Second-place UC Irvine (18-8, 12-5) was idle and finishes by playing host to Long Beach State on Saturday.

Santa Barbara, the defending tournament champion, finishes at UC Riverside on Saturday. The Gauchos have never won a Big West regular-season title outright. Fullerton (9-18, 7-10) remains tied with Pacific and Cal State Northridge for the final three seedings.

-- Paul McLeod

Utah State 69, Cal State Northridge 58 -- The Matadors (13-14, 7-10 Big West) remained winless in seven trips to Logan, Utah, as the Aggies (20-8, 11-6) earned their fourth straight 20-win season.

Ronnie Ross and Desmond Penigar each scored 17 points for Utah State. Northridge’s Ian Boylan scored 22 points on seven-of-nine shooting.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 86, UC Riverside 67 -- Varnie Dennis had 21 points on nine-of-13 shooting as the Mustangs (14-12, 10-7 Big West) never trailed in beating the Highlanders (6-17, 5-12) at Riverside.

John Galbreath scored a career-high 21 points for Riverside.