UC Riverside ends long losing streak to Long Beach St. 74-72

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) Taylor Johns scored 26 points and made critical plays late to lead UC Riverside to a 74-72 victory over Long Beach State on Saturday.

Jaylen Bland made five 3-pointers and scored 16 points and Secean Johnson added 11 points for the Highlanders (11-11, 2-4 Big West), who ended a 12-game losing streak to the 49ers (9-12, 3-3).

Gabe Levin scored 20 points, Justin Bibbins 14, A.J. Spencer 13 and Noah Blackwell 11, but the 49ers' leading scorer, Nick Faust, had just six, failing to reach double figures for the first time this season.

With the score 72-72, Johns made a steal and, after a timeout, put in a left-hander in the key with 53 seconds left. His block gave the ball back to the Highlanders, who worked the clock down before Bland was called for a charge with 7.6 seconds left. However, the 49ers managed only a failed desperation shot.