49ers Edge Pacific in Double OT Thriller

Ware's strong second half helped Long Beach State beat UCSB in the Big West season opener for both teams.

2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Feb. 7, 2009

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) - Casper Ware's two free throws with 13.4 seconds left in the second overtime gave Long Beach State a 81-80 victory over Pacific Saturday.

Michael Kirby's last second shot went off the back rim and Stephan Gilling rebounded the ball to secure the win for the 49ers.

The 49ers (12-10, 6-4 Big West Conference) increased their first-place conference lead to one game over idle Cal State Northridge. It marked only the fourth time in the last 13 games that Long Beach State has defeated Pacific (12-9, 5-5).

Long Beach State outscored the Tigers 16-15 in the overtime periods.

Ware missed a 15 footer with 1 second left in the first OT forcing a second overtime period. Long Beach State had a chance to win in the first OT but Gilling's misfired on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer in regulation sending the game into overtime.