Portland, OR – UC Santa Barbara took the lead early and never gave it back, ending Portland State's home-court winning streak at the Viking Pavilion, 85-73.
 
The loss was PSU's first at home this season (3-1) and ended an eight-game home-court winning streak dating to last season. The Vikings dropped to 5-7 overall with the loss.
 
For UC Santa Barbara, it was a fourth-straight win and eighth in 10 games this season. The Gauchos entered the game at 7-2 meaning PSU still has not played a Division I opponent this season with a losing record at the time of the game. That stretch of quality opponents will continue to the final non-conference game at California Baptist (7-4) next Thursday.
 
Portland State was always close in this game and tied it on seven occasions in the first half, but never held a lead. The Gauchos came into the game as one of the best rebounding teams on the west coast with a +7.2 margin. They proved it, out-rebounding PSU, 42-29. They also made more free throws in a foul-plagued game. There were 51 fouls whistled in all, with UCSB making 26-33 at the charity stripe (.788) while the Vikings were 22-32 (.688). 
 
Jorell Saterfield scored 19 of his team-high 23 points in the second half to keep the Vikings close. Cameron Parker added 16 points, and team-highs of seven rebounds and eight assists in the game.
 
Ajay Mitchell had game-high scoring honors with 25 points for the Gauchos. He made 10-17 from the field and 5-7 at the line, adding seven rebounds and five assists. Miles Norris had 12 points and game-high 10 rebounds.
 
UC Santa Barbara shot 28-55 from the field (.509) compared to 24-56 for Portland State (.429). 
 
The Gauchos rolled out to an 11-2 lead in the opening moments of the contest, forcing the Vikings into a timeout. The huddle conversation must have helped as PSU scored the next eight points, aided by three UCSB turnovers. Hunter Woods finally pulled the Vikings into a 13-13 tie with a free throw at the 10:35 mark.
 
The game went on to be tied seven times before UC Santa Barbara went on a 12-3 run to close out the half with a 39-30 edge. 
 
UCSB's lead increased to 47-35 early in the second half, but Saterfield warmed up for the Vikings. He scored nine points over the next four minutes and pulled PSU within four on two occasions. 
 
But the Gauchos were able to get the lead back to double figures with just over nine minutes to play. The Vikings couldn't sustain a run of more than four points the remainder of the way. The closest they would get was six points with 2:31 to play.
 
UCSB's largest lead was 14 in the final minute. The Gauchos shot .533 from the field and .867 at the line in the second half.
 

GAME NOTES

• Keshaun Saunders led the bench effort with nine points on 4-8 from the field and 1-2 at the line.
• Portland State is now 64-15 at home in non-conference games over the last 14 seasons.
• The Vikings have one more non-conference game before Big Sky play begins on Dec. 31. PSU plays at California Baptist (7-4) on Dec. 22 in a 7 p.m. game that can be seen on ESPN+.
• Big Sky Conference play begins Dec. 31 at Sacramento State.