Long Beach St. 49ers vs
UC Riverside HighlandersPredictions & Preview

UC Riverside Highlanders Favored to Dominate Long Beach State in Big West Conference Matchup on Thursday

The upcoming Big West Conference matchup between Long Beach State and UC Riverside is set to take place on Thursday, February 20 at SRC Arena in Riverside, CA. UC Riverside previously defeated Long Beach State 76-60 as a 3.5-point road favorite earlier this season. The Highlanders are currently favored to win again, opening at -11 with the line remaining unchanged. Visit our site for more in-depth analysis and predictions for this game and other NCAAB matchups scheduled for Thursday night.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: 49ers +478 | Highlanders -673
• Spread: 49ers +11 (-110) | Highlanders -11 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 141.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that UC Riverside will win straight-up is 87%.

Long Beach St. vs UC Riverside Stats

Long Beach St. 49ers

The Long Beach State Beach are currently on a nine-game losing streak, although they have covered the spread in four of those nine contests. In their most recent game against Hawaii, they fell short with a 62-60 road defeat. Leading scorer Devin Askew contributed 16 points and six rebounds, while junior guard TJ Wainwright added 20 points. Askew averages 18.4 points per game, while Wainwright contributes 13.0 points. The Beach have struggled defensively, allowing 116.1 points per game, and their offensive stats are also subpar, with a field goal percentage of 43.87% and a three-point percentage of 35.61%. Overall, Long Beach State is ranked 334 in offense and 244 in defense, with a 7-19 record for the season.

UC Riverside Highlanders Analysis

The UC Riverside Highlanders have had a recent mixed performance, with two wins and two losses in their last four games. They recently defeated UC Santa Barbara in a close match, with standout performances from Barrington Hargress and Nate Pickens. Hargress leads the team in scoring and assists. The Highlanders have a power ranking of 110 and are ranked #226 for offense and #217 for defense nationally. They have a 17-10 overall record and have shown strength in rebounding and defensive assists. Their shooting percentages are average, but they have room for improvement in field goal and free throw percentages. Overall, their solid performance has earned them a spot in the NCAA NET Rankings at number 141.

UC Riverside Dominates Long-Range Shooting and Rebounding to Secure Victory Over LBSU

In their initial matchup of the season, the Highlanders secured a decisive 16-point victory against the Beach. UC Riverside demonstrated superior performance from beyond the arc, converting 10 of 30 attempts compared to LBSU's modest three successful shots out of 11. The Highlanders' dominance extended to the rebounding game, where they outperformed the Beach by a margin of 38 to 30, securing 12 offensive boards. UC Riverside's prowess in rebounding suggests they hold a significant advantage over LBSU in this aspect. Conversely, LBSU's performance in 3-point defense has been lackluster, ranking 353rd nationally in opposing 3-point percentage. With LBSU allowing conference opponents to connect on nearly 40% of 3-point attempts, UC Riverside is poised to exploit this weakness. Given LBSU's defensive struggles, it is anticipated that the Highlanders will capitalize on their superiority on the glass and in long-range shooting, positioning them favorably for victory and a higher seed in the conference tournament, while the Beach faces challenges to advance.

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