Long Beach State loses last-second thriller to UC Santa Barbara 74-71

Long Beach State basketball came heartbreakingly close to an improbable 17-point comeback last Saturday. The 49ers pulled even against UC Santa Barbara in the final moments, but Petar Majstorovic’s game-tying three-pointer fell just short at the buzzer in a 74-71 loss that will haunt the team.

The Stunning Second Half Rally

Long Beach State entered halftime down by 15 points, facing elimination from the game. The Gauchos had been dominant, shooting 59.3 percent from the field and 7-for-12 from three in the first half alone. Everything looked bleak at 44-29 down.

But the 49ers refused to quit. Majstorovic transformed the second half into a one-man show. The sophomore forward took over defensively and offensively. Every three-pointer, every drive, every moment counted for Long Beach as they clawed back into contention.

Majstorovic’s Heroic Performance

Petar Majstorovic finished with 21 total points, but his second-half explosion was what mattered most. The 6-foot-8 forward carried the entire offensive load when his team needed it most. With under three minutes remaining, Long Beach State had actually tied the game.

In that moment, anything seemed possible. The crowd was electric. The momentum had shifted completely. All they needed was one final stop, one final basket, and the day would belong to the Beach.

Game Summary Table

The second half saw a dramatic reversal of fortune, though it ultimately came up just short:

Category	Long Beach State	UC Santa Barbara
Final Score	71	74
Record	8-13, 4-5 Big West	Won 4th straight
Leading Scorer	Majstorovic, 21 pts	Mahaney, 21 pts
Location	The Pyramid, Long Beach

Mahaney and Shaw Ice the Game

Aidan Mahaney had already been brilliant for UC Santa Barbara, but he proved clutch when it mattered most. After Long Beach State tied the game, Mahaney and teammate Shaw hit critical baskets to put the Gauchos back ahead. The combination of offense late sealed the win.

Mahaney was 8 of 13 from the field and 3 of 5 from three-point range. This was his fourth game with 20 or more points this season. UCSB now stands at 8 consecutive games without losing and keeps pace in the Big West standings.

What Does This Heartbreak Mean for Long Beach State?

The Beach falls to 8-13 overall and 4-5 in Big West conference play. This was a game they absolutely could have won. A 17-point comeback was nearly complete. The missed shot will sting for days, weeks even.

Yet there are positives to take from this loss. Long Beach State showed resilience, toughness, and the ability to battle back from adversity. Majstorovic announced himself as a player to build around. If the 49ers can harness this energy and eliminate the slow starts, they could still turn this season around. One shot. One bounce. That’s all that separated them from a stunning upset victory.

“Aidan Mahaney’s 21 points helped UCSB defeat Long Beach State 74-71 on Saturday. Mahaney went 8 of 13 from the field with 3 five from 3-point range.”

— Associated Press, Official Game Report

Sources

• ESPN – Official game recap and box score with player statistics
• Associated Press – Game summary covering Mahaney’s leading performance
• The Big West Conference – Official highlights video and conference standings update