{"id":38890,"date":"2026-01-30T00:58:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T04:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/long-beach-state-loses-last-second-thriller-to-uc-santa-barbara-74-71\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T00:58:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T04:58:59","slug":"77575-long-beach-state-loses-last-second-thriller-to-uc-santa-barbara-74-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/77575-long-beach-state-loses-last-second-thriller-to-uc-santa-barbara-74-71\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach State loses last-second thriller to UC Santa Barbara 74-71"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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\ud83d\udd25 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n
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  • Final Score:<\/b> UC Santa Barbara 74, Long Beach State 71 on January 24, 2026<\/li>\n
  • Key Hero:<\/b> Aidan Mahaney led UCSB with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting<\/li>\n
  • Comeback Star:<\/b> Petar Majstorovic scored 19 second-half points for the Beach<\/li>\n
  • Dramatic Finish:<\/b> Long Beach State tied game with under 3 minutes remaining<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    The Stunning Second Half Rally<\/h2>\n

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

    But the 49ers<\/b> refused to quit. Majstorovic<\/b> 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<\/b> as they clawed back into contention.<\/p>\n

    Majstorovic’s Heroic Performance<\/h2>\n

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

    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<\/b>.<\/p>\n

    Game Summary Table<\/h2>\n

    The second half saw a dramatic reversal of fortune, though it ultimately came up just short:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Category<\/td>\nLong Beach State<\/td>\nUC Santa Barbara<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Final Score<\/td>\n71<\/b><\/td>\n74<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Record<\/td>\n8-13, 4-5 Big West<\/td>\nWon 4th straight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Leading Scorer<\/td>\nMajstorovic, 21 pts<\/td>\nMahaney, 21 pts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Location<\/td>\nThe Pyramid, Long Beach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

    Mahaney and Shaw Ice the Game<\/h2>\n

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

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

    What Does This Heartbreak Mean for Long Beach State?<\/h2>\n

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

    Yet there are positives to take from this loss. Long Beach State<\/b> showed resilience, toughness, and the ability to battle back from adversity. Majstorovic<\/b> announced himself as a player to build around. If the 49ers<\/b> 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.<\/p>\n

    \n“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.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \u2014 Associated Press<\/b>, Official Game Report<\/p>\n

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    Watch: Official Game Highlights<\/h3>\n