SOUTHLAND

UC Riverside 73, Long Beach State 67--The Highlanders beat themselves for the first 20 minutes. Then they went about beating the 49ers.

Vili Morton had a key three-point play with 21 seconds left as the Highlanders rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit at the Pyramid for their first Big West road victory.

John Galbreath had 20 points and Jason Perkins added 17 for Riverside (5-6, 2-1), which defeated Long Beach for the first time in 16 tries. Morton added 12 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots.

“The question was asked [before the game], ‘How important would it be if you won?,”’ Riverside Coach John Masi said. “Three things could happen. One, we’d beat Long Beach for the first time. Two, it’s a conference win. Three, we’ve won on the road.

“How much more can you ask out of your team in the third game of Big West play?”

Riverside held Long Beach (4-9, 0-2) without a field goal over the final 6:42 in rallying from a 64-53 deficit.

Tony Darden led the 49ers with 17 points.