Nov. 27, 2009

Box Score

Anaheim, Calif. - T.J. Robinson, Casper Ware and Eugene Phelps all finished with double-doubles Friday but it wasn't enough for Long Beach State as the 49ers dropped an 87-79 decision to No. 19 Clemson in the second round of the 76 Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Robinson, Ware and Phelps, all sophomores, combined to score 57 points, grab 27 rebounds and hand out 11 assists as The Beach nearly came away with its biggest win in years. Robinson led the trio with career highs in points (25) and rebounds (15), while making 9-of-13 shots.

Ware handled the Tigers (5-1) pressure more like a four-year veteran than a young sophomore. He finished with 20 points, one off his career best, and a career-high 10 assists while playing 39 minutes against relentless full-court pressure by Clemson.

Phelps battled down low for 33 minutes finishing with 12 points and 10 boards and a highlight-reel dunk over Clemson's Byran Narcisse late in the second half.

The Beach (3-3) came out and battled nationally-ranked Clemson from the opening tip. LBSU jumped out to a five-point lead with 7:29 to play in the first half. Clemson battled back taking a four-point lead into the locker room at halftime. The 49ers were down 38-34 despite being outscored 22-10 in the paint and 12-3 off turnovers.

It looked like the Tigers would run away with it early in the second half. Clemson scored the first seven points of the half to take an 11-point lead. The Tigers would build it to 12 points with 12:47 to play before Long Beach State came storming back behind Ware, Phelps and Robinson.

The 49ers went on a 13-2 run over a stretch of three minutes and three seconds to get within one, 61-60 with 8:54 to play. In that stretch, Ware had two four points and two assists, while Phelps had four points, Robinson three points and Greg Plater two points.

Clemson stopped the 49ers run before The Beach could take the lead scoring six straight points to build a seven-point lead before pushing it to 11 with a 14-4 run to build a 75-64 lead. Long Beach State could never get closer than eight after in the last 5:35

Stephan Gilling added 12 points, all in the first half, for the 49ers, who shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field but only 58.8 percent (20-of-34) from the line. Tanner Smith (17 points) led six Tigers' in double figures, while they made 57.6 percent (38-of-66) of their shots.

Long Beach State wraps up the 76 Classic Sunday morning at 11:30 when it plays the loser of Friday night's UCLA-Butler game.