Long Beach a loser to Air Force

Dan Nwaelele scored 19 points, including a key three-point basket with 1:31 to play that broke a tie, and Air Force scored a 69-68 victory over Long Beach State in the first round of the CBE Classic on Tuesday night at Stanford.

Jacob Burtschi had 22 points, including two free throws in the final 12 seconds, for the Falcons (2-0) and Tim Anderson had 11.

Aaron Nixon scored all of his 17 points in the second half as the 49ers played their season opener. Sterling Byrd had a career-high 16 points and Kevin Houston had 11.

Air Force plays Stanford tonight for a trip to the tournament semifinals Monday in Kansas City, Mo.

Long Beach State led the nation with an 83.3 scoring average last season and the Falcons led the nation in scoring defense the last four seasons, including last season’s 54.7 average.

Air Force held a 30-25 lead at halftime.

Cal State Fullerton 98, Hope International 65 -- Ray Reed had 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Titans (2-0) to a victory over the NAIA Royals (1-4) at Fullerton.

Chris Minardo had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Marcus Crenshaw scored 16 points for Fullerton, which scored 28 points off 25 turnovers.

UC Irvine 67, South Carolina 52 -- Sophomore forward Adam Templeton scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his second career double-double to lead the Anteaters (2-2) past the Gamecocks (1-1) at the Bren Events Center.

Junior forward Patrick Sanders had 15 points and seven rebounds and junior center Darren Fells and junior guard Chuma Awaji had 11 points apiece for Irvine, which was playing its fourth game in five days.

Pepperdine 98, Nicholls State 83 -- Marvin Lea scored 22 points and the Waves (1-2) set a team record with 21 three-point baskets in a victory over the Colonels (0-4) in the Basketball Travelers Classic at Seattle.

The 21 three-point baskets is the most in Division I since Furman made 21 on Dec. 29, 2004. Troy holds the Division I record with 28 against George Mason in 1994.

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USC announced it has signed two players, including former Lynwood High standout Davon Jefferson, who could join the Trojans as soon as the second semester.

The 6-foot-8 forward attained a passing score on the ACT but is still working to meet other entrance requirements.

The Trojans also signed Leonard Washington, a 6-7 forward from Lake Charles (La.) Washington Marion High who was considered one of the best prospects in Louisiana.

USC is also expected to sign Marcus Simmons, a 6-5 swingman from Alexandria (La.) Peabody High in addition to one other player.