LONG BEACH, Calif. — In a tightly contested match on Saturday night, UC Santa Barbara edged out Long Beach State with a narrow 58-56 victory, propelled by Stephan D. Swenson’s impressive 16-point performance.

With just 37 seconds remaining in the game, Devin Askew stepped up for Long Beach State, sinking two crucial free throws. However, the Beach was unable to convert their scoring opportunities in the final moments, missing two shots that could have changed the outcome.

Swenson not only shone on the offensive end but also contributed defensively, contributing five rebounds and four steals for his team, the Gauchos, who improved their record to 18-10 overall and 10-7 in the Big West Conference. Colin Smith also made a significant impact, scoring 13 points, while Kenny Pohto rounded out the effort with 11 points and six rebounds.

For the Beach, Askew led the scoring with 15 points, while TJ Wainwright added 11 points to the total. Andrew Nagy had a solid outing as well, with nine points and two steals, but despite their efforts, the team now faces a challenging streak, having lost 11 consecutive games.

Looking ahead, both teams will be back in action on Thursday, with UCSB set to host Cal Poly, while Long Beach State will welcome Cal State Bakersfield to their home court.