Long Beach State dominated the inside in an 89-81 victory over Hawai’i in the Big West Conference basketball opener for both teams on Thursday night in Long Beach, Calif.
The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 9-5 overall, and is now 0-6 in the Walter Pyramid since joining the Big West Conference in the 2012-13 season. The 49ers improved to 7-10.
Long Beach forwards Barry Ogalue (21 points, 9 for10 field goals), Gabe Levin (17, 6 for 10) and Temidayo Yussuf (18, 6 for 8) combined for 56 points. Most of those points came from close range, as they combined to shoot 21 for 28.