DAVIS, Calif. – James Ennis had 24 points and 13 rebounds as Long Beach State clinched the Big West Conference regular-season championship with a 77-76 victory over UC Davis on Thursday night.
The 49ers (18-11, 14-3) are the first school to win three straight outright Big West regular-season titles since UNLV reeled off seven straight from 1982-89.
Tony Freeland added 21 points and Mike Caffey had 11 for Long Beach.
Corey Hawkins scored 34 points for UC Davis (14-15, 9-8). Ryan Sypkens and Ryan Howley added 12 points apiece.
The Aggies shot better than the 49ers from the field (51 percent to 44 percent), beyond the arc (11 for 21 vs. 8 for 21) and at the free-throw line (11 for 13 to 9 for 12). But Long Beach dominated the rebounding battle 42-25.
The 49ers trailed by seven with 7:20 remaining but used a 16-4 run to go ahead 75-70 with 2:48 left.
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