SOUTHLAND ROUNDUP

Long Beach State 64, UC Irvine 63--Marek Ondera’s last-second baseline jumper was off the mark, enabling the 49ers to hang on for the Big West Conference victory at Irvine.

Mate Milisa made a 12-foot leaning jumper, with two defenders on him, to give Long Beach (8-9, 5-2) the lead with eight seconds to play. Irvine guard Jerry Green then pushed the ball up court, only to have it knocked loose by Long Beach guard Charles O’Neal. Green dived and flipped the ball to Ondera, who put the shot up with two seconds left.

“My play was not the biggest play,” said Milisa, who scored 15 points. “Charles’ play was the biggest play. He saved the game for us.”

The victory put the 49ers back in first place in the conference’s Western Division, a half-game in front of UC Santa Barbara.

There were six lead changes and the score was tied three times in the final nine minutes. Neither team led by more than six.

Green scored 21 points, making eight of 14 shots. His jumper from just inside the three-point line gave Irvine a 63-62 with 31 seconds remaining.

Long Beach’s Ramel Lloyd, who scored only four points in an overtime loss to Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, scored 18 points, making eight of 14 shots.