UC San Diego edges Long Beach State 77-74 at home as Dengdit posts 18-point double-double
A late-season Big West result with implications for both teams’ trajectories
UC San Diego held off Long Beach State 77-74 on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, tightening a game that remained within one possession in the closing minutes and reinforcing the Tritons’ position in the Big West race. The win moved UC San Diego to 16-8 overall and 6-6 in conference play, while Long Beach State fell to 8-16 and 4-8 in league action.
The three-point margin reflected a matchup where both teams produced efficient stretches on offense but struggled at times to separate, leaving execution and late-game stops to determine the outcome. UC San Diego carried a first-half advantage into intermission, then navigated a more productive second half from Long Beach State to preserve the victory.
Key performances: interior production, perimeter shot-making, and scoring balance
Bol Dengdit anchored UC San Diego with 18 points and 12 rebounds, delivering a double-double that stabilized the Tritons through Long Beach State’s second-half push. Jaden Vance added 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including two 3-pointers, and was perfect at the free-throw line (3-for-3). Alex Chaikin contributed 16 points and supplied spacing with three made 3-pointers while also getting to the stripe (5-for-7 on free throws).
For Long Beach State, Shaquil Bender led all scorers with 22 points and recorded two steals. Petar Majstorovic posted 19 points and eight rebounds, also finishing with two steals. Rob Diaz III added 18 points, five assists and two steals, giving the Beach three double-figure scorers who collectively kept pressure on UC San Diego’s lead.
- UC San Diego’s top three scorers combined for 51 points.
- Long Beach State’s top three scorers combined for 59 points.
How the game took shape
UC San Diego set the tone early, taking a 38-30 lead into halftime. Long Beach State responded with 44 points after the break—its higher-scoring half—while UC San Diego put up 39 in the second period. The post-halftime exchange kept the margin narrow, with the Tritons relying on rebounding and free-throw opportunities to counter Long Beach State’s scoring bursts.
Final score: UC San Diego 77, Long Beach State 74. Halftime: UC San Diego led 38-30.
What it means in the conference context
The result left UC San Diego at .500 in Big West play, a position that can fluctuate quickly in a compressed conference schedule where close games regularly shape the middle of the standings. For Long Beach State, the loss added another tight outcome to a season defined by narrow margins, underscoring the difficulty of turning competitive performances into road wins against conference opponents.