After losses to a pair of nationally ranked opponents, the Long Beach State basketball team has returned to the win column in a way it never has before—by beating UCLA.

The 49ers’ 79-68 victory Sunday in the final round of the 76 Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center was their first ever over the legendary team from Westwood after 10 consecutive losses spanning decades.

Perhaps that doesn’t mean as much this year, when UCLA has staggered into the season with a 2-4 record that includes a season-opening loss to Cal State Fullerton–which like Long Beach State is a member of the Big West Conference.

But the 49ers program has suffered some of its most-historic losses to UCLA. Back in 1970, 1971 and 1972, Long Beach State was stopped short of the Final Four only by defeats at the hands of then-perennial national champion UCLA. The 49ers were leading the 1971 game against UCLA by 11 points deep into the second half, but lost by two points on a pair of free throws.

They’ll gladly take this win. It raises their season record to 4-3 and comes after being manhandled by eighth-ranked West Virginia and hanging close, but still losing, to No. 19 Clemson in the first two rounds of the tournament.

Sophomore forward T.J. Robinson led the Beach with 25 points and 13 rebounds, on his way to earning all tourney honors.  Sophomore guard Casper Ware scored  all 11 of his points in the second period.

UCLA also lost its first two games of the tournament in a blowout by Portland, UCLA (2-4) and in the closing seconds to 10th-ranked Butler.

Sunday’s game was for seventh place in the eight-team field. It started sloppily, neither team scoring until UCLA guard Jerime Anderson hit a jumper nearly three minutes into the game. Early play was marred by missed opportunities on both sides, and careless play by LBSU, leading to 10 first half turnovers.

The Bruins built a lead as high as seven points with 7:30 left in the first half, but some strong inside play by Robinson, including a tip-in at the buzzer, produced a 32-31 halftime lead for the Beach.

LBSU came out firing in the second half, led by the continued low post presence of Robinson and Ware attacking the rim. Senior outside shooter Stephan Gilling knocked down a couple of clean jump shots for the Beach, sophomore forward Eugene Phelps helped Robinson down low and sophomore guard Larry Anderson was able to shake off a wretched cold streak to lead LBSU on what would eventually be a 19-9 run in the second half, ballooning the 49ers lead to 17 points.

 Though UCLA was able to cut the lead to 10 points at the 6:17 mark, the Bruins never got closer than that. Long  Beach beat them. For the first time. Ever. 

The game was full of firsts for UCLA, all of them bad. Not only the first time the Bruins lost to LBSU, but also the first time they had failed to win at least one game in an 8 team tournament and the first time UCLA had lost to two members of the Big West Conference in the same season.

 There was one other first in the game—the first signature win for third year Long Beach State head coach Dan Monson.

 The Beach’s continued tough pre-season schedule gives Monson more opportunities for  a few more of those this year, though they will be much tougher tasks as the 49ers next head to Austin, Texas to face the No. 3 ranked Longhorns.

Trips to top 10 teams Kentucky and Duke are also on the horizon.

But for now, after wrapping up Thanksgiving weekend, the 49ers can be thankful for facing UCLA. For once.

Tags: 76 Classic, Dan Monson, first-ever, Long Beach State basketball, UCLA