Preview: Long Beach State Looks to Snap Skid at UC San Diego SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The UC San Diego Tritons will look to solidify their position in the upper tier of the Big West Conference when they host the struggling Long Beach State 49ers on Thursday night at RIMAC Arena. The Tritons (15-8 overall) enter the contest having dropped three of their last four, including a 64-81 road loss to Cal State Northridge on Saturday. Guard Hudson Mayes, a key player to watch for UC San Diego, tallied 11 points and five assists in that defeat. Mayes has shown scoring flashes recently, including a 19-point performance in a win at UC Davis on Jan. 22. Long Beach State (8-15) is mired in a four-game losing streak following an 82-89 home loss to Hawaii on Saturday. The 49ers have relied heavily on the offensive production of guard Petar Majstorovic, who scored 22 points against Hawaii and has surpassed the 20-point mark in four of his last eight games. In the teams’ first meeting this season on Dec. 6, UC San Diego secured an 80-74 victory at Long Beach State. The matchup presents a stark contrast in conference trajectory. UC San Diego aims to rebound and maintain a winning record, while Long Beach State desperately seeks a turnaround to salvage its season. The Tritons’ defense, which allowed an average of just 66.2 points during a five-game win streak earlier in January, will be tested by Majstorovic and backcourt mate Shaquil Bender, who also scored 22 points in the loss to Hawaii. Thursday’s game is the first of a critical two-game homestand for UC San Diego before a trip to Hawaii. Long Beach State continues a difficult stretch on the road, where they are 2-7 this season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.