Utah State Ends Long Beach Streak at 15

Long Beach State was looking for a sweet 16 Saturday. Instead Utah State threw a big 10 at the 49ers.

The visiting Aggies broke out to a 15-point first half lead, kept Long Beach State from any big runs in the second half and made its free throws down the stretch to defeat the 49ers, 71-63, before 4,805, the fourth-largest crowd to see a men’s basketball game at the Pyramid.

The loss ended a 15-game winning streak for Long Beach State, 17-4 overall and 9-1 in the Big West. It was the 10th consecutive victory for the Aggies (19-5, 10-0), and their second huge victory over a Southland team this season. Utah State defeated USC in the Maui Tournament in November.

Utah State also ended a 10-game road losing streak to Long Beach.

“I’m very proud of our players,” Aggie Coach Stew Morrill said. “This is a big win against a very good team. Long Beach is so athletic.”

Center Dimitri Jorssen led Utah State with 16 points. He was one of four Aggies in double figures, but Morrill got points from eight players.

Long Beach State Coach Wayne Morgan had told his players it would be “an NCAA tournament-caliber game” and said that’s exactly what the 49ers got.

“Utah State deserves the credit,” Morgan said. “They made their own breaks, made some difficult shots and got some very good plays down the stretch.”

By virtue of Central Connecticut State’s loss to Fairleigh Dickinson only hours earlier, the 49ers entered the game with Division I’s longest winning streak.

But in the first half the Beach was all sand and no surf. Down 12-6, Utah State rolled a 25-4 run on Long Beach that stunned the home team and the home folks.

On defense, the Aggies’ 2-3 matchup zone kept Long Beach on the outside, and the 49ers shot a rickety 37%. Their only two three-point baskets (in 12 attempts) were made by center Mate Milisa. Long Beach had as many turnovers as it did assists (six).

“That 2-3 zone should give you problems if we do it right,” Morrill said.

The 36-24 halftime deficit was the largest for Long Beach since it trailed Richmond, 36-21, in their Syracuse Carrier Classic tournament game on Dec. 4. That was also the last time the 49ers lost.

Long Beach would get as close as 59-54 with 3:28 left in the game. But no closer.

“I hope we see them again in the [Big West] tournament,” said Milisa, who led all scorers with 23 points. “If we had to lose I’m glad it was now. We’ll learn from this game.”