Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
1-2
Idaho State
0-3
Beach Wins in Overtime Behind Morris
11/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Beach Picks Up First Win For Monson In Overtime
Morris leads 49ers with career-high with 20 points
November 17, 2007
| MEN'S BASKETBALL | 1 | 2 | OT | FINAL | RECORDS |
| Idaho State | 27 | 29 | 5 | 61 | 0-3 |
| Long Beach State | 28 | 28 | 10 | 66 | 1-2 |
| Leading Scorers: LBSU: Morris-20; ISU: Stucki-19 Leading Rebounders: LBSU: Morris-10; ISU: Tatum-9 | |||||
| BOX SCORE | |||||
LONG BEACH -- Long Beach State broke into the win column Saturday with a thrilling 66-61 victory over Idaho State in overtime at the Walter Pyramid. The 49ers outscored Idaho State 10 to 5 in overtime to secure its first victory of the season.
Long Beach State (1-2) trailed Idaho State 56-54 with 0:16 left in regulation when Darnell Porter stole the inbounds pass and found a wide open Brian Freeman for the lay-up forcing the game into overtime. Idaho State (0-3) went ice cold in the overtime going 0-for-7 from the field, scoring all of its points from the free throw line.
"We were down 11 or 12 before we got our rhythm," said 49er Head Coach Dan Monson. "Then we got seven straight stops and that was a crucial point. We may have only scored like six points, but to make seven stops for any team is pretty good."
Long Beach State guard Donovan Morris led all scorers with 20 points (career high) and also had a game high 10 rebounds to lead the 49ers. Freeman contributed nine points and Porter had seven points and a game high four steals for the 49ers. Artis Gant had seven points and four assists, while Cornel Williams had a career high as he scored seven points and seven rebounds and provided much needed energy for the 49ers off the bench.
The 49ers scored the first five points in overtime on a basket by Morris and a three-point play by Gant giving the 49ers and 61-56 at 3:40. The Bengals pulled within 62-61 with 0:52 seconds left on two free throws by Chron Tatum. Freeman layup with 0:19 seconds left gave The Beach a 64-61 lead. The Bengals Matt Stucki missed a long three-pointer with five seconds left in overtime.
The 49ers were slow off the starting block falling behind 23-13 before scoring ten straight points to tie the score. The 49ers got their first lead of the game with 0:58 seconds left in the first half on a three-point play from Morris. The 49ers used a smothering half-court trap defense to force Idaho State into 18 turnovers and held the Bengals to a dismal 37% shooting percentage. The 49ers led for much of the second half before relinquishing the lead with 1:04 left to play on three-point shot from Idaho State guard Matt Stucki. Stucki led Idaho State in scoring with 19 points. Amorrow Morgan had 14 points along with Tatum who also had 14.
"I saw the clock going down, and knew I could not be tentative with the ball. I passed it off to Freeman and he was able to get it in," said Gant. "Our whole thing is to get through adversity. To try to come together as a team and not to go out there and do anything on our own."
"I'm proud of our guys. It has been a long week. Seven days ago was a disaster, losing our home opener and struggling and then to go on the road and dismantling. I'm thankful that they were rewarded today with a win," said Monson. "This is the epitimy of how we are going to have to win games this year. No one knows their role yet and they were able to concentrate and do what they had to do. I am please with the effort and attitude today."
The 49ers face Pepperdine in their next game on Wednesday. November 21 in Malibu.
