SANTA BARBARA — In a game that featured 20 lead changes, UC Santa Barbara was ahead when it mattered most and sent Long Beach State to its third straight loss.

Long Beach shot 56.1% from the field and Aboubacar Traore and Lassina Traore had double-doubles, but strong outside shooting and a significant advantage at the free-throw line helped the Gauchos hold off LBSU, 78-73, in the Thunderdome.

Aboubacar Traore nearly had a triple-double, with 12 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high seven assists, while Lassina Traore led Long Beach (15-14 overall, 9-8 Big West Conference) in scoring and rebounding with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Marcus Tsohonis added 16 points and AJ George had 11 points and five rebounds. LBSU out-rebounded UCSB 36-29 and finished with 46 points in the paint in a dominant showing inside.

The Gauchos (21-7, 12-5 Big West) finished 10 for 25 from 3-point range and shot three times as many free throws (14 for 21) as Long Beach (5 for 7) despite LBSU’s dominance in the paint. UCSB also took better care of the ball with seven fewer turnovers than Long Beach (16).

Neither team led by more than nine points in a game that was tight throughout. Tied at 16-16, Long Beach went on an 8-0 run to establish an early lead, and back-to-back 3-pointers from Tobias Rotegaard gave the visitors a 30-21 cushion. The Gauchos responded with a 10-0 run, and the teams were within striking distance of each other the rest of the way.

Trailing 72-69 with 3:18 left, Long Beach went inside to AJ George for back-to-back baskets inside to take a 73-72 lead with just over two minutes remaining. Ajay Mitchell carried the Gauchos from there, scoring the next two baskets before making a pair of late free throws to seal the win.

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Mitchell finished with 28 points and six assists to pace the Gauchos. Cole Anderson had 18 points and went 5 for 11 from behind the arc, and Miles Norris added 16 points and went 4 for 8 from long range.

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LBSU returns home, hosting Cal State Northridge on Saturday at 4 p.m.