Long Beach Battles Back to Defeat Texas A

Brad Smith’s three-point basket with 3:15 left gave Long Beach State its first lead of the game and the 49ers held on to defeat Texas A&M;, 86-73, Friday at the Pyramid for their fourth consecutive victory.

The Aggies led, 57-41, with 14:51 left. Smith’s basket gave the 49ers a 61-60 edge.

Smith finished with nine points on three-of-five shooting and Ramel Lloyd had 23 points. Travis Reed added 20 points and 10 rebounds as Long Beach State (7-4) shot 46% from the field.

Using runs of 16-3 and 19-4 in the second half, the 49ers came back from the large deficit.

Texas A&M; (3-5) was led by Carleton Brown’s 20 points, on eight-of-13 shooting, while Bernard King had 18 points. The Aggies shot 51% from the field.

Valparaiso 65, Cal State Fullerton 52--Raitis Grafs had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead the Crusaders (8-3) to a victory over the Titans (1-8) at Valparaiso, Ind.

Jason Jenkins had 14 points and was four of six from three-point range. Lubos Barton added 13 for the Crusaders.

Babacar Camara led Cal State Fullerton with nine points.

WOMEN

Katrissa O’Neal and Plenette Pierson each scored 20 points as No. 11 Texas Tech defeated USC, 85-59, at Lubbock, Texas.

Texas Tech’s missed shots and turnovers allowed USC (5-4) to pull within nine points at 60-51 with 9:21 left. But Tech (8-1) held USC scoreless for three minutes and built a 22-point lead.

Amber Tarr and Jia Perkins each had 15 points for Tech. Aisha Hollans led USC with 17 points. Denise Woods added 12.

USC made 11 of 20 free throws while Tech made 20 of 26.