SOUTHLAND ROUNDUP

Utah State 60, Long Beach State 53--Utah State extended its winning streak to four games with a Big West victory before 1,793 at the Pyramid.

Long Beach (8-15, 4-8) was without center Rudy Williams, who averages 11 points and seven rebounds and had played the last two games despite a wrist injury suffered during an 80-52 loss at UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 26.

Long Beach Coach Wayne Morgan called the loss of Williams, “a crippling blow,” and said the 6-9, 240-pound senior might be out for the rest of the season.

Utah State (17-4, 9-3) took advantage of Williams’ absence and swarmed Long Beach forward Travis Reed, who was coming off 30- and 31-point performances in victories over Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside last week. Reed had nine points and six rebounds against the Aggies.

Long Beach led, 27-26, at halftime, but fell behind, 43-33, when Utah State guard Ronnie Ross scored with 9:46 left. The 49ers pulled to within 45-44 on Ron Johnson’s three-point basket with 6:30 left, but that was as close as Long Beach would get.

Utah State forward Toriano Johnson provided the decisive basket when he made a three-pointer from the left corner with 1:34 remaining. It was the Aggies’ only three-pointer of the game.

Forward Desmond Penigar had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Johnson and Ross each had 11 points for Utah State.

Ron Johnson scored 13 points and Chris Jenkins had 10 for Long Beach.

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Gary Klein