LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging UC Irvine looks to continue its push atop the Big West standings when it visits struggling Long Beach State on Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid. The Anteaters (17-9, 8-3 Big West) enter having won five of their last six games, including an 86-65 rout of Cal State Fullerton on Saturday. They currently sit in second place in the conference. The 49ers (8-18, 3-8) have lost five straight and eight of their last nine, falling to 10th in the 11-team league. UC Irvine won the first meeting this season, 74-64 at home on Jan. 8. The Anteaters have dominated the recent series, winning 10 of the last 11 matchups. A key for Irvine will be the continued strong play of guard Andre Henry. The senior is averaging 14.4 points per game over his last seven contests, including a 19-point performance in 24 minutes against Fullerton. He provides consistent scoring punch for an Anteaters offense that has eclipsed 78 points in four of its last five wins. Long Beach State will lean on guard Gavin Sykes, its most consistent offensive threat during the skid. Sykes is averaging 16.3 points over his last four games, scoring 18 in a loss at UC Davis last Saturday. He had 20 points and four assists in the January loss to Irvine. The Anteaters’ frontcourt, led by Harrison Carrington (18 points vs. Fullerton) and shot-blocker Kyle Evans, poses a significant challenge for a Long Beach State team that has been outrebounded in most conference games. The 49ers have also struggled defensively, allowing 80.2 points per game during their five-game losing streak. A win would keep UC Irvine in tight contention for the regular-season conference title. For Long Beach State, it represents a critical opportunity to halt its slide and gain momentum before the final stretch of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.