Long Beach State University
3-8
Bucknell
5-7
49ers vs. Bucknell
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
49ers Fall To Bucknell
Morris Scores Career-High 27 Points
December 29, 2007
| MEN'S BASKETBALL | 1 | 2 | OT | FINAL | RECORDS |
| Bucknell | 25 | 36 | - | 57 | 5-7 |
| Long Beach State | 16 | 41 | - | 57 | 3-8 |
| Leading Scorers: LBSU: Donovan Morris 27; BU: John Griffin 15 Leading Rebounders: LBSU: Cornel Williams 11; BU: Josh Linthicum 12 | |||||
| BOX SCORE | |||||
BERKELEY--- Junior Donovan Morris scored a career-high 27 points, 19 in the second half, but Bucknell used some timely shooting in the second stanza to come away with a 61-57 win over Long Beach State in the consolation game at the Golden Bear Classic at Haas Pavilion. The 49ers fell to 3-8 with the loss while Bucknell improved to 5-7.
Morris knocked down a career-high seven three-pointers in the game, including five in the second half. Freshman Greg Plater had another solid outing off the bench finishing with 13 points and Cornel Williams grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. Darnell Porter added nine points, five rebounds and three steals.
The 49ers shot .365 (19-52) from the field and were 9-of-21 (.429) from three-point range. Long Beach had a season-low 10 turnovers in the game but were out-rebounded 42-to-32.
Senior John Griffin led the Bison with 15 points while G.W. Boon and Justin Castleberry both tallied 12 points.
The 49ers battled in the second half and tied the game three times, the last at 45-45 with 4:55 remaining after Morris knocked down his third three of the half. Bucknell answered with a three by Boon to take the lead for good at 48-45. Morris hit another three with 1:03 left to cut the deficit to 57-55, but misfired on two possessions. Bucknell took a 59-55 lead after an offensive rebound and follow by Josh Linthicum and then salted the game away with two free throws by Castleberry with 9.3 seconds left.
Long Beach limited the Bison to a .350 (21-60) field goal percentage and forced 11 turnovers. The Bison were 11-33 from three-point range and grabbed 42 rebounds, 16 on the offensive glass.
Both teams began the game slowly from the field. Long Beach shot .217 (5-24) from the field in the opening stanza while the Bison shot .258 (8-31). Long Beach led 4-3 at the 16:50 mark, only to see Bucknell go on a 12-0 run to take a 15-4 advantage at 11:03. The lead grew to 13 points, 21-8, at the 6:33 mark, but the 49ers used a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 21-15 with 1:25 remaining. Long Beach limited the Bison to just four points in the final six minutes of the half. Morris had eight first half points for the 49ers while Castleberry had 10.
Morris was named to the Golden Bear Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 14.0 points per game in the two outings.
Long Beach kicks off Big West Conference action on Thursday, January 3 when they play at UC Santa Barbara.
