Long Beach State Handles UCSB To Stay Unbeaten In Big West

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP)—Casper Ware scored 16 points and Long Beach State clinched a share of the Big West regular-season title with a 70-58 victory over UC Santa Barbara Wednesday night.

Eugene Phelps and James Ennis had 14 points each for Long Beach State. The 49ers (20-7, 13-0), the defending Big West champions, will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament that begins March 8 in Anaheim, Calif.

Long Beach State had a 12-game winning streak snapped Saturday at Creighton.

Orlando Johnson led the Gauchos (15-9, 9-4) with 20 points. James Nunnally had 13 points and 12 rebounds for UCSB.

Long Beach State coach Dan Monson won his 250th game in a 15-year career. He also coached at Gonzaga and Minnesota.