BIG WEST TOURNAMENT

Utah State 69, Long Beach State 61--On one end, there was the spinning, leaning performance of Marcus Saxon, who created new and different ways to get to the basket on each possession.

On the other end, were Long Beach State’s repetitive attempts to feed 7-foot-1 Andrew Betts inside. The contrast was too much for the 49ers to overcome.

Saxon’s 40-minute performance propelled Utah State to a victory.

Saxon, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, scored 27 points, 17 in the second half, as the Aggies (23-7) built a 13-point second-half lead and held off a 49er rally.

A layup by Betts cut the Utah State lead to 60-55 with 3:34 to play. But Saxon, who was playing despite torn cartilage in his left knee, scored the Aggies’ next six points.

Long Beach (10-19) used three defenders on him, none of whom was effective.

Other Aggies also found working inside easy. Guard Kevin Rice, who also played 40 minutes, scored 17 points and center Donnie Johnson scored 15.

Betts didn’t get room to work on the other end. The 49ers’ strategy seemed limited to posting up Betts and throwing lob passes to him. He was surrounded every time he touched the ball by three, sometimes four players.

Betts scored 19 points, but made only nine of 20 shots.