SANTA BARBARA — The Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team couldn’t keep up with a UC Santa Barbara team that is picking up steam.

CJ Shaw had 17 points and three steals to lead UCSB to an 83-69 victory over Fullerton on Saturday night at the Thunderdome, as the Gauchos (15-7 overall, 8-3 Big West) avenged a New Year’s Day loss to the Titans for their sixth consecutive win.

Marvin McGhee IV added 14 points and nine rebounds, while Colin Smith scored 13 on 5-for-5 shooting for UCSB, which led by as much as 27 points in a wire-to-wire win. Miro Little added 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Zion Sensley contributed nine points on 4-of-13 shooting and 10 rebounds.

KJ Garris had 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting and five rebounds to pace Fullerton (10-13, 5-6), with Davis White (10 points, five rebounds) and Joshua Ward (10 points) the only other Titans to score in double figures. Christian Williams was held to eight points on 3-of-10 shooting while collecting four steals. Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro, who had 25 points in the first game against UCSB, did not play.

The Gauchos scored 25 points off of 15 Fullerton turnovers, getting a lot of easy baskets in transition. The hosts, playing stingy defense, had a double-digit lead (19-9) less than nine minutes into the game and extended the margin to 18 points (34-16) with 3:20 left before the Titans closed the half on a 13-4 run to get within 38-29. Fullerton shot 7 for 12 from 3-point range in the first half.

Fullerton got within seven on a Ward fast-break layup early in the second half, but UCSB responded with a 22-2 run for a 68-41 lead with 8:55 left. The Titans – who shot 2 for 11 from behind the arc in the second half – closed the game on a 17-4 run over the final 4:41, but it was far too little too late.

UCSB outrebounded Fullerton 40-26 and got 38 points from its reserves. The Gauchos had 21 assists on 48% shooting (29 for 60) overall, while going 11 for 33 from 3-point range and 14 for 17 from the free-throw line.

The Titans had just seven assists while shooting 44% overall (24 for 55), going 9 for 23 from behind the arc and 12 for 18 from the free-throw line.

UP NEXT

Fullerton hosts UC Riverside on Thursday at 7 p.m.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Through Saturday, Jan. 31

Team – Overall, Big West

UC Irvine – 15-7, 8-2

UC Santa Barbara – 15-7, 8-3

Hawaii – 16-5, 8-3

UC Davis – 13-9, 6-5

Cal State Northridge – 13-10, 6-5

UC San Diego – 15-8, 5-6

Cal State Fullerton – 10-13, 5-6

Cal Poly (SLO) – 9-14, 5-6

Long Beach State – 8-15, 4-7

UC Riverside – 8-15, 3-8

Cal State Bakersfield – 8-15, 2-9