UC Santa Barbara turns back UC Riverside 65-55

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) Michael Bryson scored 18 points and John Green had 14 to lead UC Santa Barbara to a 65-55 win over UC Riverside on Thursday night.

Bryson hit 7 of 11 shots and scored 12 points in the second half after the Gauchos (12-12, 6-5 Big West) took a 29-18 lead at the half.

Secean Johnson had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Highlanders (13-15, 4-8), who got within two early in the second half.

Santa Barbara then pushed the lead back to 10 before Johnson's 3-point play pulled the Highlanders with 52-47 with 5:34 left.

The difference was still five with about 4 1/2 minutes left and both teams missed chances until Bryson's jumper at 2:43. He added two more free throws before Menno Dijkstra's basket at 1:51 ended the Highlanders' field goal drought since Johnson's bucket. Riverside shot just 36 percent (20 of 56), including 5 of 27 behind the arc.