UC Santa Barbara denies UC Irvine in Big West Tournament title game

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    UC Irvine’s Austin Johnson is defended by UC Santa Barbara’s Miles Norris during the first half of Big West Tournament championship game on Saturday night in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Robinson Idehen (24) is fouled as UC Irvine’s Dean Keeler (31) and Austin Johnson defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Irvine’s Brad Greene (55) keeps the ball away from UC Santa Barbara’s Devearl Ramsey (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Irvine’s Dawson Baker keeps the ball from UC Santa Barbara’s Jaquori McLaughlin (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Jay Nagle (1) goes for a ball that is headed out of bounds near UC Irvine’s Jeron Artest (15) and Isaiah Lee (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Irvine’s Brad Greene (55) and UC Santa Barbara’s Amadou Sow (12) go for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Devearl Ramsey #4 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos trips over DJ Davis #22 of the UC Irvine Anteaters during the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Robinson Idehen (24) goes for a shot around UC Irvine’s Austin Johnson (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Ajare Sanni #13 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos is attended to after injuring his ankle on a play against the UC Irvine Anteaters in the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Gauchos won 70-63. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Ajare Sanni lies on the court after being injured during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against UC Irvine for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    From left, UC Santa Barbara’s Brandon Cyrus (11), JaQuori McLaughlin and Devearl Ramsey swarm UC Irvine’s DJ Davis during the Big West Tournament championship game on Saturday night in Las Vegas. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Amadou Sow (12) shoots during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against UC Irvine for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Josh Pierre-Louis #2 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos pushes a rebound away from JC Butler #0 of the UC Irvine Anteaters during the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Miles Norris (5) goes for a shot past UC Irvine’s Austin Johnson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Irvine’s Emmanuel Tshimanga (25), Brad Greene (55) and Dawson Baker (1) are shown during a late-game timeout during an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. UC Santa Barbara won 79 to 63. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Jaquori McLaughlin (3) keeps possession of the ball from UC Irvine’s Jeron Artest (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Josh Pierre-Louis #2 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos drives against Dawson Baker #1 of the UC Irvine Anteaters during the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Gauchos won the game 79-63. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Irvine’s Isaiah Lee (5) second from left, and UC Santa Barbara’s Jaquori McLaughlin (3) third from left, tangle during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. UC Santa Barbara won 79 to 63. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Jaquori McLaughlin (3) keeps the ball from the reach of UC Irvine’s Jeron Artest (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. UC Santa Barbara won 79 to 63. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Devearl Ramsey (4) drives past UC Irvine’s Dwayne Davis (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. UC Santa Barbara won 79 to 63. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Isaiah Lee #5 of the UC Irvine Anteaters and Josh Pierre-Louis #2 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos compete for a loose ball during the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Robinson Idehen #24 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos grabs a rebound against Dawson Baker #1 of the UC Irvine Anteaters during the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Gauchos won the game 79-63. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Devearl Ramsey #4 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos competes for the ball against Isaiah Lee #5, and Dawson Baker #1 of the UC Irvine Anteaters during the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Miles Norris #5 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos dunks the ball against the UC Irvine Anteaters in the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Gauchos won the game 79-63. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Head coach Joe Pasternack of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos hugs Josh Pierre-Louis #2 as time expires in their 79-63 victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters in the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Miles Norris (5) lines up a shot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. UC Santa Barbara won 79 to 63. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Josh Pierre-Louis #2 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos does push-ups on the sidelines after a teammate scored a 3-point basket against the UC Irvine Anteaters in the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Robinson Idehen #24 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos passes the ball against (L-R) Jeron Artest #15, Austin Johnson #13, and Dawson Baker #1 of the UC Irvine Anteaters in the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Jaquori McLaughlin (3) celebrates their win over UC Irvine in the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Josh Pierre-louis (2), center right, and teammates celebrate their win over UC Irvine in the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara’s Miles Norris (5) and Brandon Cyrus (11) celebrate their win over UC Irvine in an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Big West Conference men’s tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: UC Santa Barbara players celebrate their 79-63 victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters in the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: Brandon Cyrus #11 (C) of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos is embraced by teammates as time expires in their 79-63 victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters in the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: JaQuori McLaughlin #3 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos is embraced by Brandon Cyrus #11 as they celebrate their 79-63 victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters in the championship game of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: JaQuori McLaughlin of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos poses for photos after being named MVP of the Big West Basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Gauchos defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters 79-63. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Santa Barbara players celebrate after defeating UC Irvine in the Big West Tournament championship game on Saturday night n Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara players celebrate after defeating UC Irvine in the Big West Tournament championship game on Saturday night n Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

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    UC Santa Barbara players celebrate after defeating UC Irvine in the Big West Tournament championship game on Saturday night n Las Vegas. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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    UC Santa Barbara players celebrate after defeating UC Irvine in the Big West Tournament championship game on Saturday night n Las Vegas. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)

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UC Irvine’s plans for the 2020 NCAA Tournament were done in by a global pandemic that canceled the event before the Anteaters could even earn their way in. A year later, the Anteaters saw a similar goal derailed by a team that played a little more consistently, especially when it mattered most.

Top-seeded UC Santa Barbara pulled away in the second half and defeated second-seeded UCI, 79-63, in the Big West Tournament championship game on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The Gauchos (22-4) avenged a pair of regular-season losses to the Anteaters (18-9) and receive the conference’s automatic berth in the 68-team NCAA Tournament, their first since 2011.

The field for the NCAAs, which will be played entirely in the Indianapolis area this year, will be revealed on Sunday at 3 p.m. (CBS, Ch. 2).

Big West Player of the Year JaQuori McLaughlin led the Gauchos, scoring 16 of his 22 points in the second half and going 4 for 7 from 3-point range, as UCSB turned a one-point halftime lead into a comfortable win. Miles Norris added 19 points and went 3 for 7 from 3-point range, and Amadou Sow, who did a lot of his damage in the first half, had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Collin Welp led UCI with 22 points on 10-for-19 shooting. DJ Davis added 11 points, Austin Johnson had nine and Dawson Baker had seven points, five rebounds and two steals. UCI had just five assists on its 24 field goals and was outrebounded 35-30.

McLaughlin hit two 3s and Robinson Idehen scored four points in a 10-0 run that gave the Gauchos their biggest lead at 59-44 with 8:22 left. The Anteaters, who had their six-game win streak snapped, trailed by double figures the rest of the way.

UCSB, which led for 37 minutes, 31 seconds, tied its season-low with just seven turnovers and scored 18 points off 10 UCI miscues. The Gauchos shot 56.7% from the field in the second half and made 29 of 58 overall.

The Anteaters and the Gauchos had been on a collision course since they met in late December, and few were shocked to see them find each other in the title game.

UCI hosted the Gauchos to open league play and won both ends of the two-game series, 75-56 and 73-69, at the Bren Events Center. The sweep sparked the Anteaters to a quick 5-0 start in league play. UCSB, meanwhile, ran off a program-record 13 consecutive wins after meeting the Anteaters and finished the regular season with the best winning percentage in school history, and a program-best 13-3 mark in league play.

UCSB’s regular-season Big West title was its first outright crown since 2003 and its first since sharing the 2010 title. For years a perennial force in the conference, that role was conceded to UCI over the past decade.

The Anteaters were younger and less experienced this season. With just two upperclassmen on the roster –junior forward Welp and senior center Brad Greene – they finished 10-4 in league play, a good record but not as strong as they had been when they won five of the previous seven regular-season titles.

The 2019 team won the Big West regular-season and tourney titles then upset Kansas State as a 13th seed to win the program’s first-ever NCAA tourney game, then last year’s squad was the top seed for the Big West tourney that was canceled before it could begin.

Five of the Gauchos’ top six players transferred in from other schools, including McLaughlin (15.6 ppg, 5.4 assists per game), who came via Oregon State. Others include graduate transfer senior Brandon Cyrus (DePaul), junior Norris (Oregon), Sixth Man of the Year Ajare Sanni (Pacific) and senior Devearl Ramsey (Nevada).

UCSB coach Joe Pasternack said earlier this week that he thought his team wasn’t ready for an opponent like UCI earlier in the season, particularly on the road.

“I think UC Irvine had more prep time and had played a better schedule,” he said. “But from then on, we improved to where we’re the No. 2 team in defense and rebounding.”

The Gauchos have won 18 of 19 since those losses, and now they’re off to the Big Dance.

Earlier Saturday night on the same court, the second-seeded UC Irvine women lost to top-seeded UC Davis, 61-42 in their Big West championship game.

More to come on this story.

‘Eaters drop the final 63-79. Proud of this young team and what they’ve accomplished this season. We’ll be back ‘Eater Nation. #stillhungry pic.twitter.com/jHua5j3p15

— UCI Men’s Basketball (@UCImbb) March 14, 2021

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