49ers Defeat Matadors, 79-72
Byrd Leads Squad With 23 Points
February 1, 2007 | MEN'S BASKETBALL | 1 | 2 | FINAL | RECORDS | | CS Northridge | 40 | 32 | 72 | 10-11, 3-5 | | Long Beach State | 41 | 38 | 79 | 14-6, 5-2 | Leading Scorers: LBSU: Sterling Byrd 23; CSN: Terrell Jones 16
Leading Rebounders: LBSU: Dominique Ricks 12; CSN: Calvin Chitwood 7 | | BOX SCORE |
LONG BEACH, CA-- Sterling Byrd scored 23 points and Long Beach State hit 20-of-28 (.714) of its free throws in the second half en route to a 79-72 win over Cal State Northridge on Thursday evening at the Walter Pyramid. Four players hit double digits for Long Beach, which improved to 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the Big West Conference. Terrell Jones led the Matadors (10-11, 3-5 Big West) with 16 points.
The 49ers turned up their defensive intensity in the second half, limiting the Matadors to a .382 (13-34) field goal percentage. Leading 63-60 with 7:12 left, the 49ers used a 7-0 run to take a 70-60 advantage with 4:48 remaining. The closest the Matadors would get the remainder of the game would be five points (76-71 at 0:47). Long Beach was 7-10 at the charity stripe in the final 3:11 of the game.
"We were fortunate tonight to get to the free throw line and make some shots," said 49er Head Coach Larry Reynolds. "Dominique (Ricks) did a great job on the offensive glass. He has six offensive rebounds in 29 minute. 13 points and 12 boards, that's a heck of a night."
Ricks picked up his first double-double of the season with those 13 points and 12 boards, while Kevin Houston added 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Aaron Nixon added 16 points and a team-high six assists. Long Beach shot just .362 (21-58) from the field for the game, but out-rebounded the Matadors 45-41. The 49ers also knocked down 10 three-pointers, four each by Byrd and Nixon.
For the Matadors, Jayme Miller added 12 points and six rebounds and Calvin Chitwood had 10 points and seven boards. CSUN was 8-25 from three-point range and was just 6-12 at the free throw line.
In a tight first half, the 49ers took a 41-40 lead into the lockerroom after a Byrd three. Long Beach had 12 first half turnovers, 16 overall, but stayed in the game by hitting 8-17 three's and going 7-10 at the free throw line. Byrd had 14 of his 23 in the first half and Ricks had seven points and seven boards at the break. CSUN shot .457 (16-35) from the field in the half, hitting 6-12 three-pointers.
The 49ers were playing the game without seniors Mark Dawson and Kejuan Johnson who are serving suspensions.
Long Beach will next be in action on Saturday, February 3 when they host the University of the Pacific at 4:30 pm in the Walter Pyramid. The game will be televised live on FSN Prime Ticket and at halftime Long Beach State will be retiring the jersey of Lucious Harris.
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