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Local Duo Thriving at The Beach
by Michelle Gardner, San Bernardino Sun
January 18, 2007
LONG BEACH - Kevin Houston just nodded at Long Beach State teammate Aaron
Nixon. With that Nixon inbounded the ball to Houston, who dished it right
back. Nixon then hoisted a desperation 35-footer that found nothing but
net, giving the 49ers a 66-65 win over Loyola Marymount.
It has been that kind of season so far for Long Beach, directed by former
Cal State San Bernardino coach Larry Reynolds. And it is the two players
with local ties who have led the resurgence of a program that was once
the doormat of the Big West Conference.
"We didn't have any time outs left so it was going to be difficult
to set up a play," Reynolds said. "That's where having seniors
comes into play. Aaron said a few words and Kevin just nodded. I knew
we were going to get a shot up."
That win came as part of a nine-game win streak. Long Beach (11-5, 2-1)
had that streak snapped Saturday at Cal State Northridge and will look
to bounce back tonight as it hosts conference frontrunner Cal State Fullerton
(13-3, 4-1) at The Pyramid.
Houston, a 5-10 point guard out of San Gorgonio, is in his fourth year
in the program, having earned considerable playing time since he arrived
as a freshman. He is averaging 9.8 points and 4.4 assists per game on
the season but has averaged 11.9 points per over the last nine games.
Nixon, who propelled San Bernardino Valley College to a state runner-up
finish in 2005, is averaging a team-high 16.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and
2.7 assists but has increased that to a lofty 21 points per game in conference
play. He was the Big West Player of the Week after a career-high 35 points
against UC Santa Barbara earlier this month - the second time he has earned
that honor this season.
Both have added leadership to go along with gaudy statistics.
"Aaron's personality takes over. He is one of those guys that wants
to take those shots but Kevin is also a leader. He has been around, understands
the offense from A to Z," Reynolds said. "Aaron is like the
accelerator of the car and Kevin is the guy that steers it."
The 49ers are looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since
1995 and notch their first tourney win since 1973. Houston went through
lean times when he arrived at LBSU, evidenced by a 6-21 mark his freshman
year and a 10-20 record as a sophomore.
Nixon joined the fold last year, helping the 49ers to an 18-12 showing
- which featured a seven-game winning streak before losing to Pacific
in the Big West Tournament final.
The recent success is especially rewarding for Houston.
"I wanted to be part of building something," said Houston, a
communications major from Highland. "It would have been easy to go
to a winning program but I wanted to get some playing time and I wanted
to go to a good school. And it was pretty close to home."
Nixon, who is majoring Black Studies, said loyalty was a factor in his
decision. Many Division I schools closer his native Cleveland, Ohio were
recruiting him along with Long Beach. Many backed off because he needed
25 units his last semester at SBVC but Reynolds stuck with him."
"Other schools didn't think I would get it done," he said. "They
never gave up on me here. They were loyal to me so I wanted to be loyal
to them."
Both players are enjoying the college experience. Nixon, who turned 23
Sunday, shares an off-campus apartment with two track athletes. His parents
have been out to see him a couple of times and made the trip to the east
coast last year when Long Beach played at Temple and Maryland-Baltimore
County.
Houston, 21, rooms with a non-athlete. He admits making the trip back
to San Bernardino County often his first two years but now he only heads
back about once a month.
Another local player will be part of the program next season. Guard Donovan
Morris, a Cajon graduate, is redshirting this year after transferring
from Fresno State and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
But Houston and Nixon are focusing on the rest of the season ahead, admitting
that less than a conference title will be unacceptable. The 49ers were
picked to win the Big West, a sign of respect for the previously-downtrodden
program.
"I don't care if we win 20 games," Nixon said. "If we don't
win the conference title we won't be satisfied."
"I like being the team on top," Houston added. "I'd rather
be there than be on the bottom still trying to work our way up. We have
to work harder and because other teams are taking us seriously now."
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