UCSB’s men’s basketball team travels to Long Beach State on Wednesday night for its final regular season road game of the season.
The two schools that have played each other in the last two Big West Tournament championship games – and are favored to do it again this year – will meet in an 8 p.m. clash that is being televised on ESPN2.
Orlando Johnson enters Wednesday’s game with the 49ers needing 23 points to pass Carrick DeHart (1,687 points from 1986-90) and Alex Harris (1,696 points from 2004-08) and become the school’s all-time leader.
On Saturday at Utah State, Johnson had 22 points and five rebounds, making 7-of-12 shots overall and 4-of-7 from three-point territory in a UCSB victory. The four three-point baskets were a season-high for Johnson.
UCSB is currently 15-8 overall and 9-3 in the Big West Conference, tied with Cal State Fullerton for second-place. Long Beach State (19-7) is coming off an 81-79 loss to Creighton on Saturday but is still unbeaten in conference play at 12-0.
It is the seventh road game in the last eight overall for UCSB. Since opening the season with six straight contests at home, the Gauchos have played 12 of 17 on the road, including all four in December. When they return home to host Cal Poly on Saturday, it will be just their second home game in 35 days. UCSB will return home to host its final three regular season games before the Big West Tournament.
