Updated

Casper Ware made eight three-pointers and high 33 points as Long Beach State pulled away in the second 64, in the championship game of the Big West Conference Tournament.

It was the third straight year the teams were meeting in the finals with Santa Barbara winning the previous two, but the 49ers (25-8) connected on 14-of-33 three-point attempts to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.

James Nunnally and Orlando Johnson netted 17 points apiece in a losing effort for the Gauchos (20-10), who also got 13 points and seven rebounds from Alan Williams.