SAN JOSE — For the second time in three games, the Long Beach State men’s basketball team went into overtime before losing, this time falling to San Jose State, 89-83, in a nonconference game on Tuesday night.
Freshman Gavin Sykes scored 26 points to pace Long Beach (2-9), which squandered a nine-point lead late in regulation. Petar Majstorovic added 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals as the underclassman duo again led the visitors in a tight game that included 18 ties and 14 lead changes.
San Jose State point guard Colby Garland had a game-high 27 points and went 11 for 12 at the free-throw line, as the Spartans (5-5) scored the last nine points of the second half to extend the game then secured the win the foul line in overtime. Yaphet Moundi added 18 points for the Spartans, and Jermaine Washington had 14 points and six assists.
The first big swing in the game came in the first half. Cole Farrell scored eight quick points to get Long Beach started, and but the Spartans used a 7-0 run to open a nine-point lead, their largest of the game.
LBSU chipped away at the lead and Sykes tied the score at 35-all before the teams headed to their locker rooms tied at 39-all at halftime.
San Jose held a 61-56 lead midway through the second half when Long Beach used an 8-0 run to grab the lead. Solid defense helped the visitors open a 77-68 lead with just under three minutes left in regulation, but San Jose closed the second half on a 9-0 run to force overtime. San Jose tied the score on a Moundi layup with one minute left, and both teams missed their final shots of regulation.
Moving into overtime, Garland controlled things. The hosts made just two field goals in the extra five minutes, but Garland made all eight of his free throws. A Majstorovic layup with 1:45 left knotted the score at 83-all, but Sadaraque NgaNga put San Jose back ahead on a jumper with 56 seconds remaining.
Sykes missed a 3-point attempt for Long Beach with 33 seconds left, and Garland made a pair of free throws for an 87-83 lead with 26 seconds to play. Farrell and Majstorovic both missed 3-point shots on Long Beach’s ensuing possession, and Garland made two more free throws with nine seconds left to close the scoring.
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LBSU will have a short break before hosting Pepperdine on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.