Long Beach State Holds Off Irvine

It had been a long, dark season for Long Beach State, but it has suddenly become one with hope.

Using some key baskets by point guard Kevin Houston and a key defensive play by forward Onye Ibekwe, Long Beach held off UC Irvine for a 55-50 Big West Conference victory Thursday night in front of 1,460 at the Pyramid.

After starting the season with 18 losses in its first 21 games, Long Beach has a three-game winning streak for the first time in three seasons.

“Obviously it’s a lot better now,” said Long Beach Coach Larry Reynolds, whose team improved to 6-18 overall and 4-10 in the conference. “We’ve experienced the other end too many times.”

Until a week ago, the 49ers had lost 10 games by single digits and five by four points or fewer. But they have now defeated UC Riverside, Irvine and Cal State Fullerton by a combined 10 points.

After Irvine (11-11, 5-9) cut the lead to 49-48, Houston made a 15-foot jumper and followed with a running left-handed floater over the Anteaters’ Greg Ethington to give the 49ers the cushion they needed down the stretch. Houston finished with 11 points.

Adam Metelski answered with a short hook for Irvine, but the Anteaters missed their final six shots. Ibekwe made the defensive play of the game when he swatted away a three-point try by Davis Baker with 22 seconds left that would have tied the score.

“We’re maturing as a team,” said Jibril Hodges, who led the 49ers with 15 points. “Coach has been stressing defense, defense, defense and now it’s starting to happen for us.”

Eric Stephens

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Cal State Fullerton 84, Idaho 74 -- Ralphy Holmes had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Jamaal Brown scored 20 points to lead the Titans (14-8, 8-5) over the visiting Vandals (8-17, 6-8).

Bobby Brown had 19 points for the Titans, who played in front of 2,076, their largest home crowd in 12 years.

Utah State 73, UC Riverside 48 -- Spencer Nelson had 18 points and six rebounds to lead the Aggies (19-6, 10-4) over the Highlanders (8-15, 3-10) at Riverside.

Utah State, the national leader in field-goal percentage, shot 59.3% (32 for 54).