Long Beach State handles UC Riverside 66-55

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) Nick Faust scored 17 points and Gabe Levin added 13 points with eight rebounds and Long Beach State beat UC Riverside 66-55 on Saturday night.

Secean Johnson hit a jumper for UC Riverside to make it 51-45 with 6:46 to go. But the 49ers went on a 9-4 spurt over the next three minutes and built a 60-49 lead that would never be challenged.

Earlier, Mason Riggins hit a jumper with 2:39 left in the first half to give the 49ers a 28-18 lead. But Eric Rwahwire made a jump shot and Primitivo Gomez buried a 3 with 1:26 left

Justin Bibbins came right back and buried a 3 for Long Beach State (16-13, 10-4 Big West), and Steven Jones' jumper for the Highlanders made it 31-25 at the break.

Johnson led UC Riverside (14-15, 5-8) with 19 points and six rebounds.

The 49ers committed just eight turnovers to 18 for UC Riverside.