Long Beach State can’t keep it close in loss

Long Beach State’s last three games had been decided by a total of five points, but the 49ers couldn’t muster any drama in an 86-75 loss to Green Bay at the Walter Pyramid on Saturday in one of several ESPNU BracketBuster games played by Big West teams.

Long Beach (13-12) gave up 52 points in the first half and trailed by 24 in the second before cutting the lead to 10 with 4:20 remaining, but got no closer.

Green Bay (21-8), a team Long Beach State Coach Dan Monson said reminded him of some of his teams when he was coach at Gonzaga, made 13 of 22 three-pointers and didn’t miss a free throw. Ryan Tillema, a 6-foot-8 guard, made seven of 10 threes and scored 30 points for the Phoenix.

-- Robyn Norwood

New Mexico State 94, Cal State Fullerton 86: Gordo Castillo scored 20 points as the Aggies (15-12) beat the visiting Titans (13-14), who were led by Josh Akognon’s 32 points.

Idaho 78, Cal State Northridge 75: Kashif Watson and Mac Hopson each scored 17 points for the Vandals (13-13) in a home victory over the Matadors (12-12).

UC Santa Barbara 78, Montana State 71: Chris Devine scored seven of his game-high 20 points in overtime to lead the Gauchos (11-13) past the Bobcats (12-13) at Santa Barbara.

UC Riverside 53, San Jose State 52: Kyle Austin and Javon Borum scored 15 points apiece, and the Highlanders (15-10) beat the Spartans (11-14) despite going scoreless in the final five minutes at San Jose.

Gonzaga 92, Pepperdine 58: Josh Heytvelt had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs (21-5, 12-0 West Coast Conference) at Spokane, Wash. Freshman Keion Bell scored 17 points to lead Pepperdine (8-20, 5-7 WCC), which has lost 16 consecutive games to Gonzaga dating to 2002.

Portland 73, Loyola Marymount 65: Karma Knutson scored a career-high 19 points to lead the Pilots (18-9, 9-3 West Coast Conference) to a home victory. Jarred Dubois led the Lions (2-26, 1-11 WCC) with 19 points.

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