BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless offensive execution and a dramatic final possession, Gavin Sykes scored a career-high 39 points, including the decisive layup with seven seconds remaining, to lift Long Beach State to an 88-87 victory over Cal State Bakersfield in a Big West Conference men’s basketball thriller Saturday night at Icardo Center.

The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 517, saw 14 lead changes and neither team lead by more than seven points. It was a fittingly tense conclusion to the regular-season series between the two struggling squads, with Long Beach State sweeping the Roadrunners after a six-point win at home in January.

Sykes, a 6-foot-4 guard from Sacramento, was spectacular throughout, carrying the offensive load for a 49ers team that improved to 9-21 overall. He shot 14 of 22 from the field, including 3 of 6 from three-point range, and added eight free throws. His performance overshadowed a monumental effort from Cal State Bakersfield’s Ronald Jessamy, who poured in 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. With Long Beach State trailing 87-86, the 49ers forced a turnover when Leopold Levillain stole the ball from CJ Hardy with 44 seconds left. After a timeout, Long Beach State worked the clock down before Sykes drove the left side of the lane, converting a difficult layup through traffic to put the visitors ahead by one.

Cal State Bakersfield, which fell to 8-22, had one final chance. Hardy, who finished with 19 points and six assists, took the inbounds pass and raced upcourt, but his contested three-point attempt from the top of the key as time expired caromed off the rim, securing the narrow win for Long Beach State.

The game was a study in contrasting efficiencies. Long Beach State won with remarkable shooting accuracy, hitting 61.1% from the field (33 of 54) and 56.3% from three-point range (9 of 16). Cal State Bakersfield countered by attacking the basket and drawing fouls, attempting 44 free throws and making 30, compared to just 20 attempts for the 49ers. The Roadrunners also capitalized on Long Beach State’s 17 turnovers, converting them into 21 points, and held a significant 18-7 advantage in fastbreak points.

Despite those edges, the Roadrunners could not overcome their own perimeter shooting woes, making only 3 of 10 from beyond the arc, nor contain Sykes. Petar Majstorovic added 12 points for Long Beach State, while Rob Diaz provided a key spark off the bench with 10 points.

For Cal State Bakersfield, Jessamy was the focal point, supplemented by Hardy’s playmaking and 17 points from forward Tom Mark of Belgium. The Roadrunners assisted on 13 of their 27 made field goals but ultimately could not get the final stop or the final shot to fall.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Long Beach State, which had lost those games by a combined 15 points. Cal State Bakersfield, which was projected as a slight favorite by advanced metrics, has now lost five of its last six.

Both teams conclude their regular seasons next week. Long Beach State hosts UC Davis on Thursday before traveling to Hawaii on Saturday. Cal State Bakersfield returns home to face Cal State Northridge on Thursday before a road game at Cal Poly on Saturday.