Stefan Gilling and Greg Plater combined for nine 3-pointers as Long Beach State edged UC Riverside 76-74 on Friday night.
Gilling's 18 points included four 3-pointers and Plater made five among his 17 points for the 49ers (15-15, 8-8 Big West), who converted 10 of 20 3-point attempts and locked up the fourth seed in the conference tournament. T.J. Robinson added 14 points and Casper Ware 11.
Larry Gurganious hit 9 of 10 shots and scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Highlanders (12-17, 5-11). Rudy Meo contributed 12, and Bryson Hampton and Lateef McMullan had 10 apiece.
Hampton's layup with 3:56 left tied the game 66-66.
But Larry Anderson sank two free throws for Long Beach State, then hit a layup on the next possession to put the 49ers ahead to stay 70-66. The Highlanders got within one point twice more but never took the lead.
