Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
2-5
LMU
2-7
49ers Rout LMU
12/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
49ers Roll Past LMU, 77-52
Morris Scores Career-High 22 Points
December 5, 2007
| MEN'S BASKETBALL | 1 | 2 | OT | FINAL | RECORDS |
| Loyola Marymount | 31 | 21 | - | 52 | 2-7 |
| Long Beach State | 35 | 42 | - | 77 | 2-5 |
| Leading Scorers: LBSU: Donovan Morris 22; LMU: Shawn Deadwiler 16 Leading Rebounders: LBSU: Brian Freeman 10; LMU: Marco Deric 4 | |||||
| BOX SCORE | |||||
LONG BEACH -- Donovan Morris scored a career-best 22 points as Long Beach State (2-5) routed cross-county rival Loyola Marymount (2-7) 77-52 on Wednesday evening in the Walter Pyramid. The victory snapped a three-game losing skid for the 49ers.
Brian Freeman added a career-best 17 points as LBSU shot a season-high 50 percent (28-56) for the game and out-rebounded the Lions 40-to-26. Maurice Clady had a personal-best 10 points and seven assists to provide a spark off the bench for the 49ers. Freeman also had 10 rebounds on 6-of-7 shooting, for his first double-double as a 49er.
The 49er defense limited LMU to 36 percent shooting from the field for the game. The Lions were led by 16 points from Shawn Deadwiler and 11 points from Orlando Johnson. The Long Beach defense forced 17 Lion turnovers in the contest and held LMU to a 8-of-25 (.320) shooting from the field in the second half.
"Obviously we're getting better," said Head Coach Dan Monson. "This was a great reward for the guys to come home in front of the fans and play better and be rewarded with a win. In the second half we did a lot better job of flying around. We got them frustrated and were able to keep our composure."
A Cornell Williams three-pointer with 5:52 left officially made it a rout, giving the 49ers a 65-43 lead. A Clady three a minute earlier made it 60-43 as the 49ers shot 54 percent (14-26) from the field in the second half.
The 49ers went on a 14-5 run to start the second half to grab a lead 49-36 on a Morris three-pointer at 13:45. The 49ers began the second half by scoring the first seven points of the half. Morris was eight-of-nine from the field and a perfect three-of-three from long-range. The 49ers hit a season-best nine three-pointers in the contest and recorded 19 assists to 14 turnovers.
"I believe my role on the team is to come into the game, take care of the ball and bring the team some energy," said Clady. "Overall, it was just a great team effort tonight."
The 49ers led 35-31 at the break using an 8-4 run to close out the half after the Lions had tied the contest at 27-27. Morris led the 49ers with nine first half points. LBSU shot 47 percent, while the Lions were held to 40 percent shooting.
The 49ers are next in action when they return last season's Bracket Buster game, at Hawaii on Sunday 7 p.m. Pacific
