Long Beach State Wins in Overtime

The damage had been done from the outside for 4 minutes 58 seconds of the overtime, and then Andrew Betts found things in his range.

Betts, Long Beach State’s 7-foot-1 center, followed up Antrone Lee’s missed three-point try with a rebound and layup to give the 49ers their first Big West Conference win of the season, 61-59, over New Mexico State on Thursday night before 1,748 at the Pyramid.

The Aggies’ Denmark Reid and Lee had traded successive three-point baskets in the overtime, which was forced when Reid finally warmed to his task of long-range bombing.

The 49ers (6-9, 1-2) attacked the basket with lob passes that Betts turned into most of his 24 points, and D’Cean Bryant worked both inside and outside for his 17 points and eight rebounds.

“I thought Andrew played an excellent game, and that was particularly true of that last rebound,” Long Beach State Coach Wayne Morgan said. “And D’Cean played the best 40 minutes he’s played all year here.”

Long Beach had owned a 46-35 lead, and the Aggies (11-5, 1-2) were shooting three-point shots as though the basket were a thimble.

But Reid, who usually scores his points three at a time, was not going to be denied. After warming up by missing his first eight shots from long range, he hit from 23 and 22 feet, sandwiched around Donminic Ellison’s two free throws.

Reid’s last three-pointer tied the score 53-53, with 1:53 to play after a Betts turnover.

Seeking to match Reid, Long Beach’s Quincy Nuckles launched his own three-point try that fell short, but Betts rejected a shot by Ellison at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.

The 49ers had opened the second half with a 7-2 run to take a 31-25 lead, Betts converting a three-point play, Lee stealing the ball and making a fastbreak layup and Betts finishing a fast break he had started with a block by lumbering down the floor to make a layup.