Jan. 30, 2008

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- James Powell scored 25 points, including 6 3-pointers, as UC Santa Barbara outlasted UC Riverside, 64-53, for a Big West victory Wednesday night.

Santa Barbara (16-5, 5-3 conference) won for the fourth time in five games after the Highlanders (4-15, 1-7) melted a 14-point second-half deficit down to 52-50 on Jalonni Diggs 15-footer with 5:47 left. But the Gauchos held Riverside scoreless for more than four minutes while scoring 12 straight to cement the win. Powell, a sophomore guard, and senior Alex Harris paced the Gauchos by shooting a combined 11-for-17 from the arc.

Larry Cunningham led Riverside with 13 points. The Highlanders lost for the ninth time in 10 games.