NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – JaQuori McLaughlin scored a career-high 25 points in just 25 minutes and Amadou Sow added his fourth consecutive double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds as UC Santa Barbara won its sixth consecutive game, 80-66 at CSUN on Saturday.

The Gauchos (10-3 overall, 4-2 Big West) took the lead early in the game and never trailed again, responding to every Matador (5-7, 1-3) charge. 

McLaughlin, limited to six minutes in the first half after picking up two early fouls, made 10-of-11 field goal attempts, including his only three-point try, and all four of his free throws. He scored 19 of his points and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field in the second half. 

McLaughlin made his only three-point basket to open the second half, giving UCSB a 39-30 lead. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes and when T.J. Starks made a three-point shot at the 15:42 mark to cut the lead to 47-43 and that was the closest the game got. 

A layup by McLaughlin with 6:46 left and then a free throw with 5:51 on the clock gave the Gauchos a 67-52 lead, but a quick 7-0 run by the Matadors, capped by a layup from Darius Brown II made it a 67-59 game with 4:43 remaining in the game.

Once again, it was a basket by McLaughlin that stunted the CSUN rally as he gave UCSB a 69-59 lead at the 4:00 mark. 

Back-to-back jumpers by Starks and Ron Artest III cut the advantage to 69-63 with 3:15 on the clock, but a three-pointer from the right corner by Sanni was the dagger, giving Santa Barbara a 72-63 lead with 2:45 to play and it started a 7-0 rally that included a pair of free throws apiece from McLaughlin and Devearl Ramsey. The lead never dropped below nine the rest of the way.

While the Gauchos didn't lead from start-to-finish, they came close. 

Lance Coleman made a three-pointer just 26 seconds into the game but CSUN then went scoreless over the next 4:37 as the Gauchos claimed a 6-3 lead. UCSB's first half lead expanded to 22-10 on a jumper by Miles Norris with 9:51 to play, but the Matadors battled back, carving the advantage to three on two occasions, the final time at 31-28 with 1:58 to play. A deep three-pointer from straight away by Sanni and an alley-oop dunk from Sanni to McLaughlin made it a 36-28 lead with 1:02 remaining. A pair of free throws by Festus Ndumanya pulled his team back within 36-30 at the end of the first 20 minutes. 

As a team, UCSB shot the ball well again, finishing at 54.0% overall. A 20-for-23 performance from the free throw line, 87.0%, and a mere eight turnovers were also instrumental. The Gauchos also won the rebound battle, 32-25.

Despite making just 2-of-10 field gals, both three-pointers, Sanni joined Sow and McLaughlin in double-figures with 11 points.

Starks, a transfer from Texas A&M scored 24 for the Matadors while Brown added 12.

UCSB will remain on the road for another weekend, traveling to UC Davis for a pair of games on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30 with both games tipping off at 4:00 p.m.