LONG BEACH – Casper Ware scored 26 points and T.J. Robinson added 19 points and 19 rebounds to pace Long Beach State past visiting UCSB Saturday, 71-53.
Ware scored 17 of his points in the first half, but the 49ers (19-10,13-2) were on top of the Gauchos (14-13, 7-8) by just three at the break, 32-29.
Greg Plater hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the second half and spark an 8-0 run that pushed the Long Beach lead to double-figures for the first time, 40-29. But the Gauchos hung around and a basket by Kyle Boswell and then a fastbreak lay-up by Justin Joyner brought them within two, 51-49, with 7:20 left.
The 49ers responded with a 20-0 run to put the game away. A follow by Robinson started the run and his follow ended it, giving Long Beach a 71-49 lead with 1:20 remaining.
“The momentum shifted so quickly and it just snowballed,” said Gaucho head coach Bob Williams. “They’re a good team and when they got it rolling there at the end we just didn’t have an answer.”
UCSB was led by Orlando Johnson who finished with 18 points before fouling out. Jaimé Serna had six points and eight rebounds while Troy Leaf added six points.
The Gauchos were held to 22-of-61 from the floor, 36.1%, and 4-of-16 from three-point range, 25.0%. They were also outrebounded by the 49ers, 49-29.
UCSB returns home on Saturday, Mar. 5 to host Cal Poly in a game that will tip-off at 7:20 p.m. and will be televised on the South and Central Coast by CBS 12 KCOY. That game will also be preceded by a salute to the team’s three seniors: Justin Joyner, Jordan Weiner and Jon Pastorek.
The Beach could have done better with the pass selection and finishing, but they are first in the conference for a reason.