Long Beach St. Regroups, Eases Past N. Mexico St.

Long Beach State overcame a miserable start and the loss of a key starter Thursday night to defeat New Mexico State, 84-83, in a Big West Conference basketball game before 1,823 fans in the campus gym.

A pair of free throws from Rod Hannibal put Long Beach ahead for good with 10 seconds left. Darrin Jackson of New Mexico missed the final shot.

Long Beach (15-8, 9-6) was playing without starting guard Jeff Rogers, who quit the team for personal reasons before the game. He is the fourth player to quit or be suspended from the team this season. Two have been reinstated.

New Mexico State (19-4, 11-3) started with a flurry, baffling the cold-shooting 49ers on numerous possessions. The Aggies made five of their first seven field-goal attempts and led 11-0 with 3:35 gone. Eight of those points followed turnovers by the 49ers, who also missed their first six field goal tries.

Long Beach got its first basket on a lay-in by Brian Camper with 13:59 left in the half, but the Aggies extended their lead to 16-5 a few minutes later.

Then the 49ers woke up. Mike Atkinson started the rally with a lay-in with 13:24 to go and over the next three minutes Long Beach outscored New Mexico State, 18-4, for a 23-20 lead.