49ers Home Opener On Sunday
Beach Takes On San Francisco State
November 22, 2005
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OVERALL RECORD: 0-2 / BIG WEST RECORD: 0-0 | Sunday, November 27 vs. San Francisco State, 2:05 pm, Walter Pyramid
Internet Radio: www.longbeachstate.com | Wednesday, November 30 vs. LMU, 8:05 pm, Walter Pyramid
Television: Live on FOX Sports West
Internet Radio: www.longbeachstate.com |
PROBABLE STARTERS | | LONG BEACH STATE (0-2) | | F-3-Shawn Hawkins (6-6, 225, Sr., 5.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) | | C-44-Dominique Ricks (6-6, 220, Jr., 9.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg) | | G-1-Jibril Hodges (6-2, 175, Sr., 13. ppg, 1.5 rpg) | | G-20-Kevin Houston (5-10, 175, Jr., 10.5 ppg, 3.0 apg) | | G-55-Aaron Nixon (6-1, 218, Jr., 13.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg) | | | | SAN FRANCISCO STATE (0-1) | | F-40-Kelan Joshua (6-6, 195, Sr., 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) | | F-52-Ian Swift (6-5, 225, Jr., 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) | | G-20-Zack Johnson (5-9, 165, So., 5.0 ppg, 4.0 apg) | | G-32-Will Logan (6-2, 190, Fr., 3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg) | | G-44-Lawrence Metz (6-1, 190, Jr., 8.0 ppg, 4.0 apg) |
THE RECORDS
•Beach looking for first win of season
Long Beach State is 0-2 on the young season after dropping both games on its season-opening road trip. Last Friday the 49ers fell at UNLV 108-73 and then on Monday The Beach lost at Cal, 88-69. San Francisco State is 0-1 on the year after losing to Hawaii-Hilo, 58-50.
THE COACHES
•Larry Reynolds is in his fourth year at LBSU
Larry Reynolds (UC Riverside, 1976) is 21-65 (.244) in three years as the head coach at Long Beach State. Overall, Reynolds is 131-100 (.567) entering his ninth year as a collegiate head coach.
THE SERIES
•First meeting with San Francisco State
•49ers lead series with LMU, 15-5
The 49ers have never played San Francisco State in men's basketball. Long Beach leads in its series with Loyola Marymount by a 15-5 count, but the Lions have won three of the last four meetings. Last year LMU won 73-57 at Gersten Pavilion. The last meeting in Long Beach was on December 23, 2003, a 71-68 49er triumph.
BEACH DROPS TWO ON THE ROAD
•Beach loses at UNLV and at California
The 49ers got off to a rocky start, dropping both games on its season-opening road trip. On Nov. 18 the 49ers lost at UNLV 108-73 as the Rebels shot a blistering .589 (43-73) from the field. Kevin Houston led three 49ers in double digits with 14 points and Aaron Nixon added 13 points and six rebounds. On Nov. 21 the 49ers fell at Cal 88-69. Cal out-rebounded the 49ers 47-30, including grabbing 18 offensive rebounds. Jibril Hodges led the 49ers with 15 points and Nixon added 13. The 49ers pulled to within five points, 59-54, with 11:06 remaining, but Cal eventually pushed the lead to 67-57 at 8:14 and kept the advantage in double digits the remainder of the contest. The 49ers shot a collective .387 from the field in the two games and a cold .291 (16-55) from three-point range. The defense allowed an average of 98.0 points per game and a .532 overall field goal percentage.
MEDIA DAY RESULTS
•49ers picked 5th by the media & 6th by the coaches
The annual Big West Conference Media Day was held on November 2 at the Irvine Hilton. The 49ers were picked to finish in fifth place by the media and in sixth place by the coaches. Senior guard Jibril Hodges was named a pre-season first team all-conference selection. Cal State Fullerton was picked by both the coaches and media to win the 2006 title.
SFSU FACTS
•Gators drop opener to Hawaii-Hilo
San Francisco State heads into Sunday's game with a record of 0-1, having lost on November 18 at home to Hawaii-Hilo, 58-50. In that game the Gators shot just .321 (18-56) from the field and 9-19 (.474) from the free throw line. Kelan Joshua led SFSU with 17 points and six rebounds. Oscar Edwards and Lawrence Metz both added eight points. The Gators did limit UHH to a .386 field goal percentage and forced 21 turnovers.
THE BEACH ON TV
•49ers on television five times
The 49ers will be on television five times this year during the regular season, with the possibility of three more games being added in February and March. The Nov. 30 game vs. LMU will be televised live on FOX Sports West. The Dec. 17 game at Pepperdine will be live on FOX Sports West 2, as will the Jan. 21 game at UC Riverside and Feb. 4 contest at Pacific. The Feb. 2 game at CS Northridge will be aired live on KVMD. Other possible television games are: Feb. 18 Bracket Buster game (ESPN), Mar. 2 vs. UC Riverside (KVMD), Mar. 4 at UC Irvine (FOX West 2). The Big West Tournament will also see its fair share of television exposure as Thursday's quarterfinals will be aired on KVMD, Friday's semifinals on ESPNU and Saturday's championship game will be live on ESPN.
HOME SWEET HOME
•49ers were 8-5 at home last season, winning final six
After opening the season on the road at UNLV and Cal, the 49ers are at home in The Walter Pyramid for six of its next nine games. The 49ers went 8-5 last year at home, winning their final six in a row. The home opener on Nov. 27 vs. San Francisco State is followed by a Nov. 30 televised game vs. Loyola Marymount. After a trip to Portland and Sacramento State, The Beach will be home for four of five games over the last half of December.
FOUR DOUBLEHEADERS
•First doubleheader with women set for December 30
The 49er men will play four doubleheaders with its women's team this season. The first will be on December 30 as the women host South Dakota State (5 pm) and the men Cornell (7:30 pm). On January 28 both teams will tangle with UC Irvine in The Walter Pyramid (2 & 5 pm). February 11 will be Homecoming on the 49er campus and the women will take on Pacific (3 pm) while the men tangle with UCSB (5:30 pm). The final doubleheader will be on March 4 at UC Irvine (4 & 7 pm). DEFENSE NEEDS TO STEP UP
•Beach allowing 98.0 points per game
The 49ers knew they would give up some points this year due to their up-tempo style of play, but things have gotten off to a rocky start. The 49ers allowed 108 points to UNLV in the opener and are allowing an average of 98.0 points per game. Opponents are also shooting a sizzling .532 (74-139) from the field. The 108 points was the most a 49er team has allowed since February 18, 1991 when UNLV raced to a 122-75 win over the 49ers in Long Beach. Last year the 49ers allowed 66.3 points per game.
FREE THROW SHOOTING
•Beach shooting .625 at the line
The 49ers have struggled as the free throw line this season, hitting just .625 (30-48) of its attempts. Jibril Hodges has been doing his part as he is 8-10 at the line and Dominique Ricks stands at .800 (4-5) in the early going.
TURNOVER IMPROVEMENT
•Just 14 turnovers at Cal
The 49ers are averaging 17.5 turnovers per game this season, but showed great improvement from the opening game. At UNLV the 49ers had 19 turnovers. Monday at Cal that number dipped to 14. Last year Long Beach averaged 16.13 turnovers per outing. On the opposite end, the 49ers are forcing 14.5 turnovers per game. UNLV had 16 turnovers in the opener, while Cal finished with 13.
#1-JIBRIL HODGES
•2nd on 49er career 3-point chart (169-465)
•Tied for team lead at 13.0 points per game
Hodges scored 11 points at UNLV and 15 at California, but he struggled from the field shooting a combined 7-28 (.250) overall and 4-18 (.222) from three-point range. He did knock down three three's at Cal, but took 11 attempts. Hodges is still one of the most prolific long-range shooters in school history. He is currently second on the 49ers career chart in three-pointers made (169) and three-pointers attempted (465). He needs just 43 more three's to pass Lucious Harris' (1989-93) career mark of 211 made three's. An honorable mention All-Big West pick last year, Hodges averaged a team-high 12.7 points per game. In league outings he stepped that up to 13.6 points per outing. A team captain this season, Hodges can also move into the Big West Conference career Top 10 for three-point shooting. He needs to reach 218 made three's to take over the No. 10 spot in Big West history. In 2004-05 Hodges connected on a personal-best 74 three's, a mark which ranks second on the 49er single season chart.
#55-AARON NIXON
•Averaging 13.0 points per game
•Season-high six rebounds at UNLV
Nixon kicked off his 49er career with back-to-back 13 point games at UNLV and Cal. Against the Rebels he also added a team-best six assists and was 3-5 from three-point range. Monday at Cal he had three rebounds and two assists. Overall, Nixon is second on the team in rebounding at 4.5 boards per game and tied with Hodges for the team lead in scoring at 13.0. One of the most heralded recruits in 49er history, Nixon was a first team All-State selection last year at San Bernardino Valley College where he averaged 23.5 points and 3.6 assists per game. He helped lead the Wolverines to a 27-5 mark, a Foothill League championship and an appearance in the California State JC Championship game. In 2003-04 he was a third team JC All-American at Columbus State after averaging 23.4 points and 5.1 assists per game in leading Columbus State to a 29-2 mark.
#3-SHAWN HAWKINS
•Season-high 10 points at Cal
•Averaging 4.0 rebounds per game
Hawkins got off to a slow start on the road trip, scoring just one point at UNLV, but then rebounding with 10 points and five boards at Cal. Hawkins currently stands at 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, but is shooting just .214 (3-14) from the field. A co-captain this year, Hawkins had a solid first year, averaging 11.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He hit double figures in scoring 20 times, including a career-best 24 points at Cal Poly, but is looking for more consistency in his shooting. Last season he was third on the team with 43 assists and garnered a team-high 62 offensive rebounds.
#2-LOUIS DARBY
•Played a total of 24 minutes in first two games
•Two assists at UNLV
Darby scored just three points in the first two games (1 at UNLV, 2 at Cal). He has played 24 minutes, but has taken just two shots from the field. His is 3-4 at the free throw line thus far, picking up from where he left off last year after shooting .750 at the charity stripe. Darby was one of several 49ers who missed games last season due to injury. He broke a bone in his left foot on Dec. 22 vs. Georgetown, and proceeded to miss the next 15 games. He concluded the year averaging 6.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
#20-KEVIN HOUSTON
•14 points in opener at UNLV
•4 assists and 2 turnovers at Cal
Houston led the 49ers with 14 points in their opener at UNLV and followed that up with seven points and four assists at Cal. Houston is averaging 10.5 points and 3.0 assists per game on the young season. Against UNLV he had two assists and four turnovers, but at Cal he reversed those numbers with four assists and just two turnovers. After hitting just 5-35 (.143) three-pointers last season, Houston is 3-9 (.333) from long-range in the first two outings. He leads the team with six assists. Houston averaged 11.9 points and 4.8 assists per game in the final eight games of the regular season last year and overall, he averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He scored in double digits in six consecutive games, including scoring a career-high 18 points in the home win over Cal Poly.
#44-DOMINIQUE RICKS
•Leads team in rebounding at 6.5 per game
•9 points and 9 rebounds at Cal
Is off to a great start this season, averaging 9.0 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game. Started on Monday at Cal finishing with nine points and nine rebounds. Of his nine boards, four were on the offensive glass. At UNLV he had nine points and four boards. Is shooting .636 (7-11) from the field and .800 (4-5) at the free throw line. Of his 13 total rebounds this year, seven are offensive. At Saddleback College Ricks averaged 12.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last year and was named the co-MVP of the Orange Empire Conference. He led Saddleback to a 28-3 mark, a league title and an appearance in the California State JC Tournament. Saddleback finished ranked No. 4 in the state and fell in the state semifinals to Fresno CC, 95-82. Ricks hit double digits in scoring 21 times and recorded 12 double-double's.
#0-ONYE IBEKWE
•Season-high 4 rebounds at California
•Has taken just 3 shots from the field
Ibekwe improved from his first game of the season, where he grabbed just one rebound and didn't score in 11 minutes at UNLV, to a solid outing at Cal. Ibekwe played 14 minutes, finishing with two points, four rebounds and an assist. Ibekwe is averaging 1.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in the early going for the 49ers. The leading rebounder last year for the 49ers at 6.3 rebounds per game, Ibekwe played in 24 games after becoming eligible in December after his mid-semester transfer from Oklahoma State in 2003. Ibekwe improved as the season progressed, averaging 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He accounted for two double-double's on the year and had a season-high 13 points at CS Fullerton.
#15-STERLING BYRD
•5 points and 2 rebounds at Cal
•Averaging 4.0 points per game
Byrd picked up his game at Cal, finishing with five points, two rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes of action. Byrd is shooting .500 (3-6) from the field and .500 (2-4) from three-point range thus far. In the opener at UNLV he played 11 minutes, finishing with three points and one rebounds. Last year at Yavapai College, Byrd averaged 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive .572 from the field. He also connected on 41-109 (.376) of his three-point attempts. He was named second team All-Region I last season, leading Yavapai to a 17-14 mark.
#30-KEJUAN JOHNSON
•Still waiting to clear up an eligibility issue
Junior Kejuan Johnson comes from a great lineage as he is the nephew of former 49er great Lucious Harris. Johnson had a stellar year at Long Beach City College last season, averaging 20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while being named first team All-State and MVP of the South Coast Conference South Division. Johnson led LBCC to a 19-9 mark and a South Division title. A great scorer who can pass the ball as well, Johnson ranked No. 28 in the state in scoring and No. 13 in the state in assists last year. Originally out of Artesia High School, Johnson attended Humboldt State for one year before transferring to LBCC.
#21-MARK DAWSON
•Averaging 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game
•Season-best 4 points and 5 rebounds at UNLV
Dawson started the opener at UNLV, finishing with four points and five rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Monday at Cal he played nine minutes, finishing with three points and two blocks. Dawson is shooting. 600 (3-5) from the field early on and is averaging 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Dawson finished second in the state in rebounding in 2003-04 at 12.5 rebounds per game, while chipping in 13.1 points and 2.0 blocks per outing leading Pasadena CC to a 26-9 mark.
#4-JAZZ HENDERSON
•7 points in opener at UNLV
•Shooting .500 (3-6) from the field
Had a strong opening game at UNLV, finishing with seven points and an assist in 13 minutes of action. Did not score at Cal in 12 minutes, taking just one shot from the field. Is shooting .500 (3-6) from the field thus far, but has taken just one three-pointer thus far. As a sophomore at Eastfield College he averaged 20.3 points per game, as well as 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He led Eastfield to a 25-10 mark, a Region V NJCAA Tournament title and an appearance in the 2004 NJCAA Division III National Tournament championship game.
#11-ARTIS GANT
•Averaging 4.0 points per game
•2-2 from 3-point range thus far
Gant had played solid basketball in his first two games. At UNLV he had five points, one assist and one steal in 11 minutes and then he followed that up at Cal with three points and an assist. He is averaging 4.0 points per game is a perfect 2-2 from the field (both three-pointers) and 2-2 at the free throw line. Gant is the lone freshman scholarship player this year out of Pasadena High School. Gant averaged 16 points and seven assists per game last year in helping lead Pasadena to a 27-4 mark and an appearance in the CIF-SS Division II-AA championship game.
#32-DOMINIC FREEMAN
•Started both games this season
•5 points and 2 rebounds at UNLV
Freeman, who has started both games thus far, had a strong opening game with five points, two rebounds and an assist in 10 minutes at UNLV. At Cal he played just seven minutes, finishing with one rebound and one assist. He stands at 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game and is shooting a perfect 2-2 from the field, including knocking down his lone three-point attempt at UNLV. Freeman to Long Beach State out of Long Beach City College where he lettered two years (2002-03, 2003-04). He was a two-time first team All-South Coast Conference South Division pick after averaging 9.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game his sophomore season.
#35-ULRIC PATTILLO
•Played 2 minutes at UNLV
•Walk-on out of Narbonne High School
Played two minutes at UNLV, taking one three-pointer and missing it. After missing last year due to a conflict with his academic schedule (Computer Engineering major), Pattillo rejoins the 49ers for 2005-06. A walk-on, Pattillo played in 11 games in 2003-04, scoring six points and grabbing two rebounds. He was 2-5 from three-point range, hitting a three at Pepperdine and at Sacramento State.
#5-KEION KINDRED
•Will redshirt this year due to arthritic knees
•Missed 11 games due to injury last year
The third senior on the 49er roster, Kindred missed 10 games last year due to injury. He played in 19 games, averaging 0.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. He dished out a season-high five assists vs. Loyola Marymount and had five points, four rebounds and three assists vs. Georgetown. Kindred's knees gave out on him early in January and he only played a total of 111 minutes in the final 20 games of the year.
#33-TRAVON FREE
•Missed final 11 games due to injury
•Had an MRI done on November 7 (Will redshirt this season)
Free missed the final 11 games last year due to a torn meniscus in his left knee and hasn't practiced much in the fall. It is yet to be determined if he will have to redshirt this year due to injury. Last year Free appeared in 17 games, averaging 3.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He grabbed a career-best 19 rebounds in the Big West opener at UC Santa Barbara, a mark which is tied for No. 6 all-time on the 49er single game chart. He had 12 points in the home win over Sacramento State and shot .446 from the field while blocking 11 shots.
#45-ANDREW FLEMING
•Walk-on this season out of Cypress HS (Will redshirt this season)
Fleming is a walk-on out of Cypress High School. Just in the infancy of his playing career, Fleming played just one year at Cypress, averaging 8.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and two blocks per game. He is in just his third year of competitive basketball. Fleming stands at 6-11 and is still growing.
#24-BRICE GALLOW
•Walk-on this year out of Redondo Union HS
Made the trip to UNLV and Cal, but did not see any action. Gallow is the fourth walk-on on the LBSU squad this year. He went through the fall "try-out" session and the coaches liked what they saw and offered him a spot on the team. Gallow prepped at Redondo Union High School where he lettered four years in basketball and one year in track. His best statistical year came as a junior when he averaged 15 points and three assists per game. | 49ER CAREER 3-POINT LEADERS | | 1. Lucious Harris (1989-93), 211-583 | | 2. Jibril Hodges (2002-Present), 169-465 |
2005-06 Season Results
2005-06 Current Statistics
2005-06 Current Roster |
