SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Matt Freeman scored a career-high 21 points and UC Santa Barbara used a 32-5 run to end the first half and open the second half to blow open a close game and defeat visiting Merrimack College 68-50 on Sunday afternoon. 

In their first-ever meeting against the Warriors (6-6), the Gauchos (9-4) won for the eighth time in the last nine games. 

UCSB opened the game with a 9-2 run, but the visitors rallied back to make it close midway through the first half, cutting the led to 18-16 on lJaleel Lord's three-point basket with 7:00 left

But the Gauchos' response was decisive as they closed the half on a 15-2 run, extending the advantage to 33-18 by halftime. Freeman scored six of his points during the run that ended the half.

After Merrimack missed its first shot of the second half, UCSB went on a 17-3 stretch to make the score 50-21 with 15:09 to play. 

A layup from Amadou Sow and a jumper from the free throw line extended by Brandon Cyrus made it 37-18. A three-pointer by Mike Watkins temporarily stemmed the tide, but a three by Freeman, a put-back and free throw by Sow, a fast break dunk and high arching jumper by Freeman, and a three-pointer by Cyrus pushed to lead 50-21. 

Merrimack got the lead down 18 in the closing minute but could get no closer. 

UCSB played one of its best defensive games of the season as it limited the Warriors to 34.6% shooting overall and 24.0% from three-point territory. The Gauchos also forced 16 turnovers. 

"We've been on them (the players) to play 40 minutes of defense," said head coach Joe Pasternack. "Today, I thought, we put together one of the best defensive efforts of the season. They (Merrimack) are tough to defend because they have so much nuance in what they run. They also had 11 days to prepare for us and we only had a day to prepare for them." 

Santa Barbara had 21 assists on its 25 baskers. JqQuori McLaughlin had a game-high eight assists while Devearl Ramsey added seven. Combined the duo had a mere two turnovers to go with their 16 assists.

"Everyday in practice we prepare for a zone defense and today we needed to put that practice to use," Pasternack said. "We were very unselfish and to have our two point guards go for 15 assists and two turnovers, that's big."

McLaughlin added nine points for UCSB. Robinson Idehen came off the bench to score a season-high 10 points, pull down seven rebounds and block two shots. Freeman who made 7-of-10 field goal attempts including his only three-point shot, had seven rebounds, tying Idehen for team-high honors. 

The Gauchos made 50.0% of their field goals overall and outrebounded Merrimack by a 37-25 margin. The 50 points they allowed were a season-low. The Warriors were led by Lord who finished with 10 points. Idris Joyner added nine. The

UCSB is off for the Christmas holiday, but will travel to the University of Louisiana for a 3:00 p.m. (PST) game on Sunday, Dec. 29. The Gauchos will play their final non-conference game on Thursday, Jan. 2 when they host Westmont College in a 7:00 p.m. game at the Thunderdome.