March 4, 2006

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. (AP) - Chris Devine scored a career-high 25 points including the tying basket to force overtime and seven free throws in the extra period to lead UC Santa Barbara to an 82-76 victory over Cal State Northridge in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Devine, who also grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds, tied the game 64-64 with 11.9 seconds remaining when he grabbed an offensive rebound after a blocked shot and banked it in from two feet away.

Devine's basket finished a 28-10 run over the final 11 minutes, 3 seconds for the Gauchos (14-13, 6-8 Big West), who scored 13 of their 18 overtime points at the free-throw line.

With the win, UC Santa Barbara earned the fifth seed in the Big West Conference Tournament that begins Wednesday. The Gauchos will play No. 8 seed UC Riverside in the first round. The teams split their season series.

Cal State Northridge (11-16, 4-10) dropped to the seventh seed and will play No. 6 Cal State Fullerton Wednesday.

Mike Efevberha led Northridge with 19 points off the bench, and Calvin Chitwood added 16 points.

Joe See scored all of his season-high 19 points in the second half and overtime for UC Santa Barbara. His 3-pointer with 1:40 to play in overtime gave Santa Barbara a 72-69 lead that it never relinquished.

Cameron Goettsche scored 18 points for the Gauchos, and Alex Harris added 10 points.