Long Beach ‘Embarrassed’ in 87-67 Loss

LOGAN, Utah —  Long Beach State is either very good or very bad. And just when it appears that the 49ers are going to stay the course one way or another, they take another confounding turn.

Utah State ended the 49ers’ three-game winning streak Thursday night, 87-67, in a Big West Conference game before 7,217 at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

“We just didn’t play--flat out,” said Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg, whose team is 7-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big West.

“We didn’t compete and they ran right by us. When five people beat another group of five people down the court, it has to do with effort. I’m embarrassed.”

Greenberg’s only positive comments were about forward Terrance O’Kelley, who scored a season-high 22 points on nine-of-14 shooting.

Winners of nine in a row, the conference-leading Aggies (12-2, 6-0) are off to their best start ever in the Big West. The Aggies’ 8-0 run to open the game got Long Beach out of its game--and out of their way--after only two minutes.

Although Utah State led only 40-30 at halftime, it was never challenged. Coach Larry Eustachy emptied his bench with 2:38 to play, but could have done it at almost any point in the second half.

The Aggies made 66% of their shots, Long Beach only 38.7%. The 49ers made 29% of their three-point shots and 46.2% of their free throws.

Center Eric Franson led Utah State with 20 points and eight rebounds.