UPDATE | Both forwards Phelps and Dervisevic are playing tonight, though head coach Dan Monson has been ejected in the first half for arguing a call and then making contact with a referee. Utah State currently leads Long Beach State by a 22-16 score. You can listen to the radio broadcast of the game by clicking here.

Stuck in the middle of a crucial non-conference road trip, the Long Beach State 49ers will try to add to a two-game winning streak tonight at former Big West foe Utah State with three of their best players banged up.

Junior wingman Larry Anderson has not traveled with the team and will miss his third consecutive game with a broken left hand, while forwards Eugene Phelps (separated shoulder) and Edis Dervisevic (strained arch) are both game-time decisions, according to Long Beach State media relations director Todd Miles.

The 49ers could use one – or both – of those post players against the 5-2 Aggies tonight, as they continue their preseason quest to pick up some important wins. With big victories this season over Iowa and Boise State, Long Beach has shown the potential to play at high levels and will need every ounce of their ability tonight. Of course, many see this game as a warmup for this Saturday’s contest at North Carolina. Even though it has thus far been a down year for the Tar Heels, a positive performance for Long Beach could turn heads nationwide.

And that’s really the whole intention of a deadly non-conference schedule like this one. Head coach Dan Monson is concerned with long-term sustainability and purposefully throws his team into difficult situations in order to (1) prepare them for the weaker Big West and (2) make a name for themselves on a larger scale. Opponents like Boise State, Utah State and St. Mary’s in a few weeks are obviously programs that Monson is aspiring to become, and the best way to copy their success is to play them head-to-head.

With solid play this season and a chance to pick up their coach’s 300th career victory tonight, Utah State will be a tough opponent for the banged-up 49ers. But the absences are expected to give other players a chance to develop and contribute more once the team is back to full strength. On top of that, the key players have been solid recently. Senior shooting guard Greg Plater set career highs in points in back-to-back games and leads the NCAA in three-pointers made, while junior point guard Casper Ware has put the offense on his back and leads the Big West in both assists (5.6 APG) and steals (2.4 SPG). Quiet old double-double machine T.J. Robinson is still a force inside with averages of 13.1 PPG and 10.7 RPG.

The 49ers play the Aggies tonight at 6:05pm.