Box Score Jaron Martin begins his drive for the game-winning basket at Long Beach State Saturday. (photo by Marlin Agoub)
LONG BEACH, Calif. --- Jaron Martin's basket with 1.4 seconds remaining lifted UC Irvine over Long Beach State, 56-55, in a "Black & Blue" Big West Conference game at the Walter Pyramid Saturday.
Martin drove the left side and lofted a shot high off the glass that rolled around the rim and dropped through to snare the victory for the 'Eaters, who improved to 14-9 overall and 7-2 in the Big West.
The 49ers' McKay LaSalle had hit a three with 9.6 seconds left to give LBSU a 55-54 lead, but UCI and Martin answered to give the 'Eaters a 4-0 road record in conference games this season.
Senior forward Will Davis II led UCI with a season-high 22 points, hitting 8 of 10 shots, and he added seven rebounds.
Martin scored nine points while John Ryan, Travis Souza and Luke Nelson added seven apiece.
Ryan tied his career high with 10 rebounds and Aaron Wright recorded five assists. The Anteaters played without the services of junior guard Alex Young and sophomore center Mamadou Ndiaye, both sidelined with left-foot injuries.
David Samuels led the 49ers (13-12, 7-2) with 15 points and Tyler Lamb added 14.
The 'Eaters jumped out to a 14-4 lead to open the game and led by as many as 14 in the first half.
Davis scored 16 of his points in the opening 20 minutes as UCI led 34-27 at the break.
LBSU took a 41-40 lead on a three-point play by Lamb with 11:13 remaining before the 'Eaters went on a 12-3 run to go up 52-44 on two free throws by Davis with 4:11 left.
The 49ers then went on an 11-2 run, capped by LaSalle's three, to take a 55-54 lead before Martin converted the game-winning basket.
The 'Eaters had a 41-35 rebounding edge and shot 39.6 percent from the field to LBSU's 33.3 percent.
UCI has won its last 43 games when holding the opposition to 60 points or less.
"Jaron made a tough shot, which he has a knack for doing," UCI head coach Russell Turner said. "I thought Will was terrific on both ends of the court."
The Anteaters return to action next Saturday at UC Riverside in a 5:00 p.m. game on ESPN3.
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