Win Streak Reaches Nine for Long Beach State, 78-66

Mate Milisa has been Long Beach State’s go-to man all season. And when the 49ers needed him most Thursday night, he delivered again.

Milisa, a 6-foot-11 center, took over the final eight minutes of a physical game against New Mexico State before 2,733 at the Pyramid as Long Beach State extended its winning streak to nine with a 78-66 victory.

With New Mexico State (11-4, 2-1 in the Big West) up by three with 7:55 to play, Milisa converted a three-point play to tie the score, 58-58. He scored nine of Long Beach State’s next 11 points and had more than enough answers for New Mexico State’s Billy Keys, who scored all six of his team’s points during Milisa’s run.

By that time, the 49ers (11-3, 3-0) had a 69-64 lead and never looked back. Milisa finished with 24 points.

The Aggies, preseason favorites to win the Eastern Division as the 49ers were in the Western, led 39-33 at halftime. But Long Beach State scored the first six points of the half to tie the game and held New Mexico State scoreless for the first 4:40 of the half.

Junior Grant Stone had a career-high 15 points for the 49ers.