LONG BEACH, Calif. - UC Riverside stayed neck and neck with Long Beach State on Saturday evening at the Walter Pyramid, but dropped the regular season finale 73-72 despite 24 points from Zyon Pullin. 

The Highlanders shot above 50 percent for the sixth straight game and Callum McRae notched his eighth double double on the year, going for 14 points and 10 rebounds.

UCR's shooting spree continued with a 65 percent clip in the first half, led by 11 from Zyon Pullin and 10 from Wil Tattersall. The Highlanders opened up a 10-2 lead on the Beach to start the regular season finale on 7-of-8 shooting, with McRae getting involved early down low to the tune of six of the 10 points. 

Defensively, the Highlanders held Long Beach State to 1 of 5 from the opening whistle and 2 of 7 from the field to close out the half. 

UCR stormed out of halftime, making seven of their first field goals with Pullin accounting for five of them. Long Beach State bit back offensively with a run in the second half, but a three from Tattersall reclaimed the lead in UCR's favor, 49-48, with under 10 minutes remaining. 

UC Riverside held the Beach to 2 of 8 from inside the three-point arc to end the second half en route to the Highlanders' second overtime game in seven days, but a pair of free throws in the final second did UCR in. 

UC Riverside will begin its quest for a Big West championship at next week's Big West Tournament at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada.