UC Santa Barbara 74, CS Northridge 69

Published Feb. 25, 2010 1:05 a.m. ET

foxsports

Orlando Johnson scored 19 points and James Powell added 17 as UC Santa Barbara held off Cal State-Northridge 74-69 Wednesday night.

Jaime Serna and James Nunnally each had 15 points for the Gauchos (17-8, 11-3 Big West), who have won a season-high six straight and nine of 10.

Kenny Daniels led the Matadors (10-18, 5-8) with 23 points.

Santa Barbara took control early - it led by 13 points less than 10 minutes into the game - but then nearly blew a 26-point, second-half lead. Up 47-21 with 13:48 to play, the Gauchos were outscored 21-4 over the next six minutes as the Matadors pulled to within nine.

Northridge later cut the lead to 69-67 with 24 seconds remaining, but Santa Barbara hit 5-of-6 free throws to escape.

The Gauchos led 32-17 at halftime and opened the second half with a 15-4 run for their largest lead.