SOUTHLAND

UC Santa Barbara 68, UC Riverside 56--Sophomore guard Branduinn Fullove scored 18 points at Riverside as the Gauchos (6-2, 1-0) spoiled the Highlanders’ Big West Conference debut.

Santa Barbara is off to its best start since the 1992-93 season, when it won six of its first seven games and received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament, its last postseason appearance.

The Gauchos limited the Highlanders (2-6) to 37.7% shooting. Riverside missed 11 of its first 14 shots in the second half as Santa Barbara took a 56-40 lead.

Riverside cut the lead to seven with 2:13 left but missed its final three shots.

Jason Perkins, a senior guard, tied a career high with 19 points for the Highlanders.