Gauchos get share of title

Alex Harris scored 25 points, Ivan Elliott scored 16 and UC Santa Barbara defeated Cal State Northridge, 77-66, on Thursday night at Northridge to clinch a share of the Big West Conference regular-season title with one game to play.

Harris and Elliott combined for 11 baskets in 22 attempts, and Harris made 12 of 16 free throws for the Gauchos (22-7, 11-4). They need only win at eighth-place Long Beach State on Saturday to earn the top seed in the conference tournament, which starts Wednesday at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Deon Tresvant led Northridge (19-9, 11-4) with 25 points, and Josh Jenkins scored 12.

The Matadors can wrap up a share of their first regular-season title, the No. 2 seed in the tournament and only their sixth 20-win season in 50 years with a victory Saturday against sixth-place Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

James Powell scored 12 points, including a turnaround from the top of the key that put the Gauchos back up by double digits after Tresvant’s six in a row cut the lead to eight.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 68, Long Beach State 62 -- Lorenzo Keeler made a key basket and two free throws in the final minute at Long Beach to clinch the win for the Mustangs (12-16, 7-8 Big West).

With the score 58-58 and just over three minutes to play, Cal Poly scored on five consecutive possessions and held the 49ers (6-23, 3-12) to one basket over the final three minutes.

Keeler tied a career-high with 22 points. The 49ers’ Donavan Morris, the conference’s leading scorer (21.1 points), made only one of 12 shots and was held to seven points.

UC Irvine 79, UC Davis 62 -- Patrick Sanders scored 18 points to lead a balanced offense as the Anteaters (15-14, 9-6 Big West) got past the Aggies (9-21, 2-13) at the Bren Center. Irvine shot 60.7% from the field in the second half and 55.4% for the game.