HENDERSON, Nev. -- No. 2 seed UC Santa Barbara outlasted No. 4 seed Cal State Fullerton 72-62 in the 2023 Big West Championship title game to win its second title in three seasons and fifth overall at The Dollar Loan Center. The Gauchos had previously won the title in 2002, 2010, 2011 and 2021.

UC Santa Barbara, The Big West co-champions of the regular season, increases its win streak to seven and improves to 27-7 overall. The Titans drop to 20-13 overall.

Ajay Mitchell (6'4''-G-2002), The Big West Player of the Year, scored 20 points and dished out four assists to lead the Gauchos and was named the Tournament MVP. Calvin Wishart contributed 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Cole Anderson put away 12 points with three treys. Miles Norris, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, pitched in 10 points. UC Santa Barbara was hot from the perimeter, hitting 41.2 percent (7-of-17) of shots from 3-point range.

Max Jones (6'5''-G-2002), Tory San Antonio (6'5''-F/G-2001) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (6'3''-G) Jr. had 18, 15 and 15 points, respectively, for the Titans. San Antonio and Wrightsell Jr. were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Neither team built a clear advantage for the first 35 minutes in a back-and-forth game that featured 16 lead changes and six ties. The biggest lead in that time frame for the Titans was six points, 9-3, at the 16:29 mark in the first half and an eight-point margin in favor of the Gauchos, 45-37, with 12:11 left in the game. Both leads were erased with the other team eventually grabbing the advantage.

With a one-point lead, 55-54, with five minutes remaining, the Gauchos went on a 17-8 run down the stretch, with eight points coming from Wishart and six points from Mitchell.

UC Santa Barbara went into halftime up 33-31. The first 20 minutes featured 10 lead changes. Neither team led by more than six points in the first period.
The Gauchos will learn their postseason destination on Selection Sunday, when the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship bracket is revealed on CBS at 3 p.m. PT.

All-Tournament MVP: Ajay Mitchell (6'4''-G-2002) of UCSB
Player of the Year: Ajay Mitchell (6'4''-G-2002) of UCSB
Defensive Player of the Year: Tory San Antonio (6'5''-F/G-2001) of CS Fullerton
Freshman of the Year: Lachlan Olbrich (6'10''-F-2003) of UC Riverside
Newcomer of the Year: Lassina Traore (6'10''-F-2000) of LBSU
Sixth Player of the Year: Jamal Hartwell II (5'10''-PG-1999) of UC Riverside
Coach of the Year: Mike Magpayo of UC Riverside

All-Big West First Team 2023

Davis

Mitchell

Pepper

Pullin

Traore

Wrightsell Jr.

First Team
DJ Davis (6'1''-G) of UC Irvine
Ajay Mitchell (6'4''-G-2002) of UCSB
Elijah Pepper (6'4''-G) of UC Davis
Zyon Pullin (6'4''-G) of UC Riverside
Lassina Traore (6'10''-F-2000) of LBSU
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (6'3''-G) of CS Fullerton

All-Big West Second Team 2023

Baker

Cameron

McClanahan

Norris

Pope

Second Team
Dawson Baker (6'4''-G) of UC Irvine
Flynn Cameron (6'5''-G-2000) of UC Riverside
JoVon McClanahan (5'10''-PG) of Hawaii
Miles Norris (6'10''-F-2000) of UCSB
Bryce Pope (6'3''-G) of UCSD

Honorable Mention
Roderick Anderson (6'1''-G-2004) of UCSD
Christian Anigwe (6'9''-F) of UC Davis
Noel Coleman (6'2''-G-2000) of Hawaii
Antavion Collum (6'8''-G/F-2000) of CSUB
Pierre Crockrell II (6'0''-PG) of UC Irvine
Kamaka Hepa (6'10''-F-2000) of Hawaii
Ty Johnson (6'3''-G) of UC Davis
Max Jones (6'5''-G-2002) of CS Fullerton
Francis Nwaokorie (6'7''-F) of UCSD
Lachlan Olbrich (6'10''-F-2003) of UC Riverside
Aboubacar Traore (6'5''-F-2001) of LBSU
Marcus Tsohonis (6'3''-G-2000) of LBSU
Atin Wright (6'1''-G) of CSUN

All-Big West All-Tournament Team 2023

Baker

Cameron

Mitchell

Norris

San Antonio

Wrightsell Jr.

All-Tournament Team
Dawson Baker (6'4''-G) of UC Irvine
Flynn Cameron (6'5''-G-2000) of UC Riverside
Ajay Mitchell (6'4''-G-2002) of UCSB
Miles Norris (6'10''-F-2000) of UCSB
Tory San Antonio (6'5''-F/G-2001) of CS Fullerton
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (6'3''-G) of CS Fullerton