Dec. 30, 2010

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Long Beach State went on a 29-8 run over the final 1:45 of the first half and the first 6:31 of the second half to pull away from Cal Poly en route to a 69-53 win in a Big West Conference game at Mott Gym on Thursday.

The 49ers held a two-point lead late in the first half when the team started the run and when it was over The Beach led 49-26. T.J. Robinson led Long Beach State (7-8, 2-0 Big West) with 22 points and nine boards. Greg Plater added 12 points, while Larry Anderson had 11 points and six boards. Eugene Phelps chipped in nine boards.

Long Beach State made 53.1 percent (26-of-49) shots from the floor, while holding Cal Poly (4-8, 0-1 Big West) to 39 percent (23-of-59) shooting. LBSU also limited CP to just 21.1 percent (4-of-19) shooting from three.

"I was pleased with our focus and our maturity on the overall trip," Monson said about LBSU sweeping UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly on the road. "They are starting to learn, trust each other, and believe in what we are trying to do. We are headed in the right direction this week. To learn and be 2-0 is a good thing."

Long Beach State jumped out to an early 6-4 lead after five minutes, but three 49er turnovers allowed the Mustangs to stay in the game despite shooting just 2-of-8. The 49ers continued to struggle offensively through the first 10 minutes leading 12-10 despite holding Cal Poly to 4-of-16 shooting with five of the misses (0-for-5) coming from 3-point range. LBSU made 5-of-12 shots during the stretch but six turnovers kept CP close.

Robinson and Tristan Wilson helped The Beach extend the first-half lead to eight with 7:42 to play. Robinson scored six of the points, while Wilson had four and an assist coming on a nice pass to Anderson on the baseline to make the lead 16-8. The Mustangs struggles from the field continued as they made just 5-of-20 shots in the first 13:19. The Mustangs cut the lead to four on a pair of baskets but the 49ers answered with hoops by Edis Dervisevic and Robinson to push it back to eight, 20-12.

Phelps and Robinson each picked up their second foul, Phelps with 4:38 and Robinson with 3:38 to play in the half, sending the two post players to the bench. The Mustangs answered with six straight points to cut the lead to 20-18, but Long Beach State fought back with nine straight points in the final 1:45 of the half to take a 29-18 lead into the locker room.

Dervisevic started the run with a hoop at the 1:45 mark to give the 49ers the momentum back. Anderson followed with a hoop at the 1:12 mark and then Plater scored five points in the final 30 seconds. He started the five-point run with a three and then hit a pair of free throws with two seconds to play after a costly turnover by the Mustangs.

Robinson led the 49ers in the first half with eight points and four boards in just 11 minutes of action. Dervisevic had six points and four boards, while Plater scored five points and Anderson and Wilson chipped in four. Wilson also had three assists before the break breaking his previous career high for a game of two assists. He finished with four assists.

Long Beach State converted on 13-of-24 shots (54.2 percent) in the half, but turned the ball over 11 times to help Poly hang around as the Mustangs scored 10 points off the turnovers. The 49ers held CP to 9-of-29 shooting (31 percent), including 0-for-9 from three. LBSU also controlled the boards with a 20-12 advantage, allowing the Mustangs to grab just three offensive rebounds.

The 49ers came out of the half playing efficient team basketball going on a 12-2 run to start the half and push the lead to 41-20 with 16 minutes to play. Robinson had six of the points, while Anderson had four and Ware two. LBSU made 6-of-8 shots to start the half, while CP answered missing its first four shots.

LBSU continued to play well in the second half. The Beach made 10 of its first 14 shots coming out of the locker room (71.4 percent). More importantly to Monson the 49ers committed just one turnover in the first 9:15 of the half. Cal Poly never threatened again and the 49ers moved to 2-0 in league play with both wins coming on the road.