SANTA BARBARA, Calif.
In a decisive matchup on Saturday night, UCSB secured an impressive 85-54 victory over Long Beach State, bolstered by a standout performance from Stephan D. Swenson, who contributed 20 points to the win.
Swenson also recorded five assists, helping to guide the Gauchos, who improved their record to 14 wins and 8 losses, with 6 victories and 5 defeats in the Big West Conference.
Cole Anderson had a notable game as well, netting 15 points while maintaining an exceptional shooting percentage, hitting 5 out of 7 attempts, including a perfect 5 for 5 from the three-point line.
Deuce Turner rounded out the scoring for UCSB with 11 points, shooting 4 of 9 from the floor, including 2 out of 3 from long range.
For Long Beach State, who are now 7-16 overall and 3-8 in the conference, Devin Askew was the standout player, leading his team with 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Kam Martin added 13 points to the tally for the Beach, while Varick Lewis contributed 6 points. This defeat marks the sixth consecutive loss for Long Beach State.
Looking ahead, both teams are scheduled to play again on Thursday. UCSB will travel to Cal State Bakersfield, and Long Beach State is set to host UC Davis at home.