49ers Handle Utah State to Move Back Into First

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

“I was on the bench for a lot of the first half with two fouls, and I was kind of down,” Jackson said. “But then I got my head right back into it. I went back in there and got it done.”

The victory, in front of 3,026, moved Long Beach (8-5, 3-1 in conference) back into first place. Forward Silas Mills scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Utah State (9-8, 3-2), and center Eric Franson added 18.

A three-pointer 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 and seven rebounds.

“I’ve been waiting for a chance like this, and I just made the most of it,” Yankelevitz said. “I haven’t been upset because we have a lot of guys on this team who can get the job done.

“But tonight, I got that chance. Franson is a great player, I really respect him, and he brought the best out of me.”

Salahuddin didn’t start either half because of a violation of team policy. However, he had a big impact on the game with 12 points, five assists and two steals.

“I felt I gave the team a spark off the bench tonight,” Salahuddin said. “I don’t care if I start or come off the bench. Once I get in there, I know what to do.”

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

An offensive rebound and layup by Yankelevitz put Long Beach ahead, 67-56. But Utah State didn’t go away easily, thanks to Mills.

His layup after Justin Jones’ missed three-point attempt cut Long Beach’s lead to 70-65 with 2:05 to go. But Salahuddin found Jackson for a length-of-the-court pass and dunk that put Long Beach ahead 72-65, securing the victory. A three-point play by Mills had cut the lead to 70-63 with 3:12 to play.