Nov. 21, 2009

Box Score

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Stephan Gilling scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half to help Long Beach State knock off Green Bay 81-68 Saturday afternoon in the Resch Center. With the win LBSU moved to 3-1, its best start since the 49ers went 3-1 to begin the 1996-97 season.

Gilling was the key to a quick start by The Beach. He outscored his teammates 20-18 before the break as Long Beach State took a 38-31 lead into the half. Gilling made 7-of-11 shots in the first half, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range.

"I think it was a great step in the right direction," head coach Dan Monson said. "The preseason is all about growing and we grew today. I was really pleased, except for the first four possessions of the second half, I thought we defended really well and offensively we moved the ball really well."

"Steph was really crucial," Monson added. "He got us off to a great start. Then I thought it was a very good team effort from there on. Larry had a "Larry Game" as we will probably start calling them now. Gene and T.J. got hit in the mouth early but they both really settled down inside for us and Casper did a great job as the floor general, and I was really pleased with our bench."

Green Bay (4-2) climbed back into the game early in the second half outscoring the 49ers 11-4 to tie the game 42-42 with 17:53 to play. The Beach rallied retaking the lead and with a free throw and led the rest of the way.

Larry Anderson and Eugene Phelps took over the scoring load in the second half. Anderson scored 15 of his 17 after the intermission, while Phelps had nine of his career-high 15 points in the second half. Phelps went 4-for-4 from the floor in the second half, while Anderson made 4-of-5 shots after the break. LBSU shot 62.5 percent (15-of-24) in the second half and 53.7 percent (29-of-54) for the game.

T.J. Robinson and Casper Ware each scored nine points for the 49ers, while Phelps led The Beach with eight rebounds. Greg Plater had a career-high seven assists off the bench.

Long Beach State returns to action Thursday morning when the 49ers play No. 8 West Virginia at 11 a.m. in the first game of the 76 Classic in the Anaheim Convention Center.