LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — Aidan Mahaney’s driving layup with 10 seconds remaining proved to be the decisive basket as UC Santa Barbara survived a furious second-half rally from Long Beach State to escape the Walter Pyramid with a 74-71 victory in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night.

The Gauchos, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half, saw their cushion evaporate completely in the final minutes before Mahaney, the sophomore guard from Lafayette, California, slithered through the lane for the go-ahead score. Long Beach State’s final attempt, a Petar Majstorovic three-pointer at the buzzer, was off the mark, allowing UC Santa Barbara to sweep the season series.

The most critical phase of the game was unquestionably the final three minutes, a chaotic sequence that saw three lead changes and the home team claw back from a deficit that once seemed insurmountable. After trailing 44-29 at halftime, the 49ers chipped away throughout the second half, finally drawing even at 67-67 on a Shaquil Bender three-pointer with 2:54 to play. Majstorovic then gave Long Beach State its first lead since the opening minutes with two free throws, making it 69-67 with 1:24 left.

UC Santa Barbara’s CJ Shaw, who finished with 11 points, answered immediately with a tough layup to tie the game. Following a crucial turnover by Majstorovic, Shaw struck again inside to put the Gauchos ahead 71-69 with 40 seconds remaining. Isaiah Lewis, who scored 16 points for the 49ers, responded with a clutch pull-up jumper to knot the score at 71-71 with 36 seconds left, setting the stage for Mahaney’s late-game heroics.

The game was a tale of two halves, defined by contrasting styles and efficiency. UC Santa Barbara built its large early lead with precise offensive execution, shooting 48.1% from the field and 47.4% from three-point range before the break. Their offensive rating of 120.1 for the game underscored their effectiveness, scoring 74 points on just 62 possessions. The Gauchos dominated the interior, outscoring Long Beach State 34-26 in the paint and securing nine offensive rebounds to the 49ers’ four.

Long Beach State’s comeback was fueled by defensive pressure and the scoring of Majstorovic. The 6-foot-8 junior from Serbia scored 21 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, willing his team back into contention. The 49ers forced the Gauchos into a more hurried pace after halftime, generating seven fast-break points to UC Santa Barbara’s one and converting 14 of 16 free throws overall.

Mahaney led UC Santa Barbara with 21 points and three assists, matching Majstorovic’s output. Beyond Shaw, Colin Smith provided 11 points and Zion Sensley added seven points and three assists for the Gauchos. For Long Beach State, Bender supported Majstorovic and Lewis with 15 points, while Leopold Levillain of France contributed eight points, four assists and a block.

With the win, UC Santa Barbara improves to 13-7 overall and strengthens its position in the Big West. Long Beach State falls to 8-13. An announced crowd of 2,351 watched the thriller at the Walter Pyramid.

The Gauchos will look to carry the momentum into a road game at UC San Diego on Thursday. Long Beach State, still seeking consistency, travels to face UC Riverside on the same night.