Orlando Johnson scored 31 points and UC Santa Barbara took advantage of UC Riverside's cold shooting to win 59-47 on Thursday night.
Johnson made 5 of 10 3-pointers as the Gauchos (13-9, 6-5 Big West) won their second game in a row. James Nunnally added 14 points, and Justin Joyner had four assists and two steals.
Javon Borum led the Highlanders (9-13, 4-6) with 14 points but made just 4 of 17 shots, including 0 of 5 from 3-point range. UC Riverside shot just 32.1 percent (17 of 53) and only 11.1 percent (1 of 9) from 3-point range. Kevin Bradshaw added 13 points.
The Highlanders led 8-3 before UC Santa Barbara sank five straight 3-pointers. Johnson made three, and Nunnally and Kyle Boswell hit one each.
UC Riverside ended the first half on a 10-1 run and trailed 31-27 at intermission but never got closer.
