Box Score Long Beach, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team couldn't quite overcome a spate of first half turnovers Saturday afternoon, and Long Beach State took advantage, withstanding a second-half Highlanders rally in a 70-64 victory.

In the first half, the Highlanders controlled every statistical column save for turnovers. UC Riverside was tagged for 11 miscues in the first 20 minutes, and the 49ers turned them into 16 points. Long Beach State, meanwhile, committed just one turnover in the period.

UCR made 13 of 25 shots from the field in the first (52.0%), including six of 13 from long distance (46.2%). It was a team effort as Secean Johnson's eight led the squad, but six other Highlanders dented the scoring column as well.

UC Riverside did a nice job defensively on the 49ers leading scorers in the first, holding Evan Payne (14.8 ppg) to five points, and Justin Bibbins (10.7 ppg) to three. However, LBSU's starting post combo of Temidayo Yussuf and Roschon Prince combined to go seven for 12 from the floor for 14 points.

The 49ers extended their lead to as many as 15 early in the second before UC Riverside started to climb back into the game. The Highlanders used a 15-2 run to close to within two, but were never quite able to get over the hump.

Johnson finished with a team-high 16 points on five of 10 shooting from the field, including four of five from long distance.  Malik Thames added 14 points for the Highlanders.

Prince paced the 49ers with 16 points, while Yussf finished with 12, and Bibbins recorded an 11-point, 11 assist double-double.

The Highlanders return home next week to play host to UC Davis on Thursday, January 12 beginning at 8 pm PT. The game is being broadcast throughout the world via ESPN3.