LONG BEACH — In pandemic times, simply getting a game played is progress.

The Long Beach State men’s basketball team was back in the Walter Pyramid on Wednesday night, playing its first game in more than three weeks after six games were canceled for COVID-19-related issues.

Colin Slater had 23 points – one of four LBSU players to score in double figures – as the hosts pulled away for a 90-64 victory over Westcliff University, an NAIA program from Irvine. Joel Murray had 13 points and Jordan Roberts and Joe Hampton each had 11 points and five rebounds for Long Beach, which shot 51% from the field and dominated the glass against a smaller opponent.

Jadon Jones added nine points, six rebounds and two blocks and freshman Aboubacar Traore had a team-high nine rebounds and two blocks for LBSU (4-7), which enjoyed a 44-32 advantage on the boards in its first game since a Dec. 12 loss at USC. Long Beach shot 31 for 61 overall, including a 6-for-19 mark from 3-point range, and finished 22 for 26 from the free-throw line.

Long Beach closed the first half on a 17-6 run to build a 48-35 by halftime, but Westcliff (2-5) whittled the deficit to 58-52 with just less than 12 minutes left in the game. LBSU took control after that by clamping down on defense, holding Westcliff to just three field goals over the final 10 minutes while Slater and Murray started to get hot. Long Beach outscored Westcliff 27-11 over the final 11 minutes and coasted to victory.

Joshua Harrison had 17 points, five rebounds and five steals and Joshua Jones added 13 points and nine rebounds for Westcliff, which shot 34% overall (21 for 62) and 2 for 19 from 3-point range and saw seven of its shots blocked.

Both teams battled some expected rust, with 18 turnovers apiece.

LBSU faces a quick turnaround thanks to a unique nonconference rematch with fifth-ranked UCLA (8-1) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion. Like Long Beach, UCLA has been plagued by COVID-related issues and has not played a game since its Dec. 11 win at Marquette. The Bruins defeated LBSU, 100-79, when the teams squared off on Nov. 15 in Westwood.

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Due to additional COVID precautions, attendance for Thursday’s rematch is being limited to family members of players on both teams. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.