Long Beach St earns season sweep of UC Riverside 78-71

Feb 10, 2017, 12:25 am

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Justin Bibbins scored 21 points and Long Beach State rebounded from a halftime deficit to beat UC Riverside 78-71 to earn the season sweep over the Highlanders on Thursday night.

Temidayo Yussuf scored 17 points and Evan Payne had 16 for the 49ers (11-15, 6-4 Big West), who have won five of six.

The teams were virtually even in terms of shooting percentage, Long Beach State hit 45 percent to UC Riverside's 44.4, but the 49ers hit five more 3-pointers.

Dikymbe Martin finished with 16 points and Secean Johnson added 13 to lead the Highlanders (7-14, 5-5). UC Riverside has lost three of four.

UC Riverside led by one at halftime, but the 49ers quickly erased it, building a 54-47 lead after a Bibbins' 3 with 14:27 to go. An Alex Larsson layup got the Highlander back to within one, 61-60, but a 9-0 49ers run pushed it to double-digits.