Long Beach Slips Past Utah State

Forward Akeli Jackson scored a game-high 21 points Thursday night to lead Long Beach State to an 80-73 Big West Conference victory over Utah State before 3,026 at the Pyramid.

The victory moved Long Beach (8-5, 3-1 in conference) back into first place. Forward Silas Mills scored 19 points for Utah State (9-8, 3-2), and center Eric Franson added 18.

A three-point shot by point guard Rasul Salahuddin gave Long Beach a 55-46 lead with 13:58 remaining in the game. Then burly center Brian Yankelevitz grabbed a rebound and dribbled the length of the floor for a layup, giving Long Beach its first double-digit lead.

Yankelevitz, making a rare start, played his best game this season. He had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Guard James Cotton, the Big West’s leading scorer, had 17 points.

Mills scored 10 points in the first half and Utah State led, 38-37, at halftime. Utah State got the ball inside to Mills and Franson throughout the first half, but was unable to take control.