Senior David Walker's goal in the 84th minute carried fifth-ranked UC Santa Barbara (16-4-2) to a 1-0 victory over visiting Wofford (12-3-3) in a NCAA First Round game on Thursday night at the Gauchos' Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.

Kyle Austin and Larry Gurganious both produced career-high scoring games Thursday evening as the Highlanders (1-2) upended visiting La Verne, 87-71, for the team's first win of the year. Austin also tied his career high with 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

Honda Center announced today a five-year partnership with the Big West Conference to host its annual men's and women's post-season basketball tournament beginning in 2011. Each year the winner of the three-day single-elimination playoff receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Three Big West individual athletes are headed to the NCAA Cross Country Championships next Monday as Cal Poly's Joe Gatel and UC Santa Barbara's Scott Smith and Crystal Reed qualified for the national meet.