LONG BEACH, Calif. – UC Irvine snapped its 16-game Big West Conference winning streak with a 63-56 loss to Long Beach State, Wednesday at Walter Pyramid.

UCI (11-8, 3-1) had not lost a Big West Conference game since Jan. 16, 2019. The Beach improve to 7-14 on the season and 2-3 in conference play.

The Anteaters shot a season-low 33.8 percent (22-65) from the field and went 5-26 (.192) from three-point range. UCI was also out-rebounded for the second-straight game, 39-28.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Evan Leonard finished with a team-high 14 points while Tommy Rutherford and John Edgar Jr. each had 10 apiece
> Collin Welp led the 'Eaters in rebounds (8) and assists (5)
> Despite going 2-10 (.200) from long range, LBSU shot 46.2 percent overall from the field
> LBSU's Collin Slater finished with a game-high 19 points
> UCI committed 16 turnovers and the Beach would convert 16 points on the Anteater mishaps

First Half
> The Anteaters got off to a sluggish start and LBSU capitalized, taking a 9-2 lead (12:45)
> The Beach went up by as much as eight points, 14-6, with 11:05 remaining
> UCI responded with an 8-0 run that Leonard kick started with a driving layup followed by a three-pointer to knot the game, 14-14, at 8:20
> Isaiah Lee drained a three at 5:15 to give the 'Eaters their first lead of the game, 17-15
> Edgar Jr. made a layup to give UCI a four-point, 21-17, lead with just under four minutes remaining
> The Beach used a 7-2 run to close out the half and take a 25-23 lead into the locker rooms

Second Half
> LBSU used a 10-0 run out of the break to take a 35-32 lead (16:56)
> Aiden Krause broke UCI's scoring draught with a jumper at 16:35. Collin Welp and Eyassu Worku added buckets to make it 39-30 in favor of LBSU with 14:43 to play
> Leonard and Isaiah Lee hit back-to-back three's followed by a jumper from Rutherford to cut the LBSU lead, 46-44, with 8:22 to play
> The Beach responded with a 10-2 run to go up, 56-46, with 3:22 remaining
> A 6-2 run by the 'Eaters in the final minute brought them within seven, 61-54, but the Beach held on to seal the 63-56 victory

Notes:
> UCI is 1-8 when trailing at the half
> The Anteaters snap a two-game winning streak against the Beach and fall to 46-60 in the all-time series
> UCI snapped a 14-game Big West road winning streak, a streak that lasted over two years (Jan. 20, 2018)
> UCI is 3-7 on the road this season

UP NEXT
> UCI returns home to play Cal Poly Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. on ESPN3