SOUTHLAND

Long Beach State 88, CS Fullerton 75--Late last season when Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State played in the Pyramid, the Titans won their fourth consecutive game from the 49ers, and Long Beach Coach Wayne Morgan was beginning to get some heat.

A year later, things are a lot different.

Morgan’s Long Beach team clinched first place in the Big West Conference’s Western Division outright with a win over the Titans, a day after Bob Hawking resigned as Fullerton coach effective at the end of the season.

The victory, in front of 3,006 at the Pyramid, gave the 49ers (20-4, 12-1) their first 20-victory season since 1994-95 and their first during the regular season since 1989-90. It was Long Beach’s 18th victory in its last 19 games.

It was the eighth consecutive loss for Fullerton (8-16, 3-10), and the longest losing streak for the school since the 1980-81 team lost 13 in a row.

“Long Beach has a lot of talent in the starting lineup, but great talent coming off the bench too,” Hawking said. “They’re really deep. Several of those guys have been starters in the past. They wear down a team like us. We can’t match their strength.”

The 49ers had five players in double figures. Center Mate Milisa scored 19, guard Ramel Lloyd 18 and reserve D’Cean Bryant had 15 to lead the way. James Williams and Antrone Lee each finished with 13.