January 2010 Archives

They have't always played well with big leads today . . . but the 49ers would have to crumble in the final five minutes to lose this one:
LBSU 74, UC Davis 54 ....

Long Beach State leads UC Davis, 56-44, in the Walter Pyramid . . .

, , . there are three minutes remaining but this thing is over.

A really bad performance by the 49ers . . . to say the least.

. . . with 10:27 to go in regulation.

The 49ers stayed in the locker room until about 20 seconds remained of intermission. But the defense is still no existent and the Mustangs' zone has their offense all but bottled up.

So much for the Long Beach State men's basketball team getting its defense turned around . . .

The 49ers, who played so well defensively during a 67-47 Big West Conference win over UC Santa Barbara Thursday night, are behind, 46-33, at halftime of this afternoon's game with Cal Poly in the Walter Pyramid.

This is how bad things were in the first 20 minutes for the 49ers against a team that took a 5-10 record into the game: The Mustangs, who played with no one taller than 6-6 for 12 minutes, out-rebounded the hosts, 27-10 -- grabbing 12 of those on the offensive end to lead the 49ers in second-chance points, 14-0.

And they outscored the 49ers inside the lane, 28-10 . . .

The Mustangs are only 22 points of their scoring average . . .

The second Dr. Martin Luther King Jr/Dr. Floyd Massey Jr. Classic is on tap Monday High in the Jordan High gymnasium.

Four boys' basketball games will be played, beginning with a noon contest between the Compton and Centennial junior varsities.

The JV teams from Jordan and Serra follow at 1:30 with the varsity squads of Centennial and Compton playing at 3.

The last game of the vent pits the Jordan and Serra varsities at 4:30.

The 49ers turned in their best performance since knocking off Utah State a week before Christmas.

Their defense was good throughout and their offense was much improved after intermission.

Now to write by deadline game story!!!!

. . . with 7:19 to go in the second half.

. . . with 13:17 to go in the second half.

The 49ers are playing a little bit better offensively but have missed a couple of opportunities to pad the lead.

James Powell hit a 3-pointer for UC Santa Barbara with 2.7 seconds to go in the first half -- just moments after Jesse Woodard banked in a 3 -- to get the Gauchos to within 32-30 at intermission of a Big West Conference game in the Walter Pyramid tonight.

What can I say other than it was a miserable first half? The teams combined for 30 turnovers, 17 of those by UCSB.

The Gauchos are shooting reasonably well (10 of 21 from the field) but the 49ers were 13 of 33. Six offensive rebounds are the biggest reasons the 49ers are in front.

The era of invincibility has long left college hoops and that point was once again illustrated a few moments ago in Knoxville, Tenn., where the University of Tennessee Volunteers knocked off unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Kansas, 76-68.

The Jayhawks seem flat and uninspired -- and that won't cut it, on the road and against a decent club, no matter how talented you may be.

. . . and 6-9 overall after dropping their fifth consecutive game, 85-75, at Cal State Fullerton tonight.

Afterward, Long Beach Coach Dan Monson said ``we were never in it''. And that's as precise a one line comment as a 49er could make about the game.

The 49ers didn't have much in the way of energy or focus -- and, for the most part, their defense was non existent.

When the 49ers play with energy and focus -- on both ends of the floor -- they are probably the best team in the Big West.

But when they turn in the kind of performance they did in Titan Gym, they are capable of losing to anyone in the conference.

They play their first home game in three weeks Saturday evening (4:30) against UC Irvine. They need to do a 180 off tonight's performance or season they started with so much promise is going to continue to head south.

The 49ers cut their deficit to four points with six minutes to go but just can't get defensive stops or get defensive rebounds . . .Fullerton just turned the ball over but is in front, 72-62.

Fullerton remains in control of the game.

Long Beach has got back to a man-to-man but the 49ers still are borderline helpless to prevent the Titans from getting any shot they want.

Aaron Thompson jumped pump-faked a 3-pointer and drove for an uncontested dunk for the Titans.

This is as poorly as the 49ers have played this season. There is 12:44 remaining.

Long Beach cut its deficit to 21-16 on a layup and free throw by Casper Ware, and a 3-point shot by Greg Plater. . . but its zone defense continues to be exploited by the Titans' jump shooters.

The Titans lead, 28-18, with 6:16 to go in the first half and Jer'Vaughn Johnson is shooting two free throws for them.

Host Cal State Fullerton got off to a 21-10 advantage eight minutes into tonight's game. The 49ers seem flat and the Titans are getting a lot of open shots.