LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — Petar Majstorovic scored 22 points to lead Long Beach State to an 88-73 victory over UC Riverside in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Walter Pyramid. The 49ers (7-11, 2-1) never trailed, building a 43-31 halftime lead behind efficient shooting. They finished the game shooting 57.9% from the floor and 61.5% from three-point range. The Highlanders (6-12, 0-3) struggled offensively, making only 4 of 18 attempts from beyond the arc. Marqui Worthy led UC Riverside with 23 points. Gavin Sykes added 16 points for Long Beach State, which outscored the Highlanders 45-42 in the second half to secure the win. Attendance was 1,213.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — Petar Majstorovic scored 22 points and Long Beach State shot a blistering 57.9% from the field to pull away from UC Riverside for an 88-73 victory in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Walter Pyramid. The 49ers, who led by 12 at halftime, never saw their advantage dip below double digits in the second half, methodically extending their lead to as many as 18 points behind an efficient and balanced offensive attack. Long Beach State finished the game with an offensive rating of 130.4, scoring 1.304 points per possession, while UC Riverside managed just 105.2 points per 100 possessions. The most critical phase of the game came late in the first half, turning a narrow contest into a comfortable Long Beach State cushion. With the 49ers leading 33-28 after a Shaquil Bender 3-pointer with just over four minutes remaining, they closed the period on a decisive 10-3 run. Gavin Sykes and Isaiah Lewis connected on consecutive 3-pointers, and Lewis added a mid-range jumper to push the lead to 40-31. After a Marqui Worthy layup for the Highlanders, Dallas Washington sank a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer off an assist from Rob Diaz, sending the 49ers into the locker room with a 43-31 advantage and all the momentum. That closing burst underscored a half defined by Long Beach State’s superior shot-making. The 49ers shot 61.5% from 3-point range in the opening period, making 8 of 13 attempts overall for the game. UC Riverside, by contrast, struggled from deep, connecting on just 4 of 18 attempts. Majstorovic, a 6-foot-8 junior from Sombor, Serbia, was the focal point, adding three rebounds and an assist in 32 minutes. He was one of five 49ers to score in double figures. Gavin Sykes of Sacramento added 16 points, while Leopold Levillain of Montpellier, France, recorded a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Shaquil Bender contributed 13 points and Isaiah Lewis chipped in 10. UC Riverside was led by Marqui Worthy’s 23 points. The junior guard from Anaheim also grabbed seven rebounds. Forward BJ Kolly of Everett, Washington, added 14 points for the Highlanders, who fell to 6-12 overall and 1-3 in conference play. Long Beach State improved to 7-11 and 2-2 in the Big West. The 49ers dominated inside, outscoring Riverside 46-34 in the paint, and assisted on 24 of their 33 made field goals, showcasing a fluid ball-moving offense. UC Riverside managed only two assists on 25 made baskets. The Highlanders, who entered the game as a slight statistical favorite according to National Statistical’s ELO projections, could not overcome their cold shooting or contain the 49ers’ offensive rhythm. Long Beach State’s lead ballooned to 68-50 midway through the second half after a Majstorovic layup, and the Highlanders never mounted a serious threat thereafter. Attendance at Walter Pyramid was 1,213. The combined point total of 161 surpassed the pregame over/under line of 147.5. UC Riverside looks to rebound at home against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday. Long Beach State travels to face Cal State Northridge, also on Saturday.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in the Big West Conference will meet when the Long Beach State 49ers host the UC Riverside Highlanders on Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid. Both teams enter the matchup with identical 6-11 overall records. The game is a chance for either squad to build consistency in a season defined by narrow losses and sporadic wins. UC Riverside (6-11) arrives on a five-game losing skid, most recently falling 69-66 to UC San Diego on Saturday. The Highlanders’ offense runs through guard Andrew Henderson, who is coming off a 27-point performance in that defeat. Over his last five games, Henderson has averaged 13.8 points, though his production has fluctuated. He will need support from teammates like Tyler Jones and Osiris Grady, who combined for 32 points against UCSD, to snap the streak. Long Beach State (6-11) has been more successful lately, winning three of its last four, including an 81-75 home victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday. The 49ers are led by dynamic guard Rob Diaz, who nearly posted a triple-double in that win with 20 points and nine assists. Diaz’s playmaking will be central to Long Beach State’s attack, especially if he can replicate the form that saw him score 20-plus in two of his last six outings. The matchup pits Riverside’s search for a complete performance against a Long Beach State team finding its rhythm at home. The Highlanders have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 82.4 points during their losing streak. They must contain Diaz and forward Petar Majstorovic, who scored 23 points against Bakersfield. Conversely, the 49ers’ defense will focus on slowing Henderson and preventing Grady from controlling the interior. With both teams at 6-11, the contest represents a critical opportunity to climb the conference standings and gain a psychological edge before the rematch in Riverside on Jan. 29. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST at the Walter Pyramid.