SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — California Lutheran University men's basketball tested themselves on Saturday as the Kingsmen took on Division I opponent UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos defeated the Kingsmen 87-66. 

The contest with UC Santa Barbara is one of two exhibitions against Division I opponents for the Kingsmen. 

Cal Lutheran was on a mission and showed they can compete with top-notch competition. At halftime, the Purple and Gold put pressure on the Gauchos, only trailing 37-34. Mason Johnson had nine points, Jacob Alonzo added seven, Charlie tallied six and Brooks Mallory had five. Alonzo led the team with four assists and Tommy Griffitts had four rebounds. 

In the second half, the Gauchos turned things around and took control of the game. A 9-0 run midway through gave them their largest lead so far at 17. Cal Lutheran made their own runs, but UC Santa Barbara never looked back and held off the Kingsmen. 

The leading score for the Cal Lutheran was Johnson with 13. Alonzo was next with 10 points and was an assist shy of a double-double. Seven more Kingsmen scored as Griffits and Lee both had nine while Devon Lewis, Ryan Grande and Mallory had five apiece. 

Alonzo led the team with nine assists and had two steals. Johnson had five rebounds and Griffitts was next with five. The Kingsmen moved the ball well and tallied 15 assists to just seven turnovers. They shot 39.4-percent from the field (26-66) and 45-percent from three-point range (9-20). 

Cal Lutheran plays another Division I school, San Diego, before getting back to their regular season. The Kingsmen travel to San Diego on Saturday, Dec. 11 for a game at 7 p.m. 

Box Score: UCSB 87, CLU 66
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director