Long Beach State University
1-1
San Francisco State
0-1
The Beach routs San Francisco State 82-65
11/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2010
- Note: Because of statcrew problems we are trying to fix some technical difficulties with the original game box score. An updated version will follow.
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State overcame a sluggish start to top San Francisco State 82-65 in a non-conference match-up at the Walter Pyramid on Monday. Casper Ware poured in a game-high 16 points with six assists, six steals and four rebounds.
"It's good to have Casper [Ware]," head coach Dan Monson said. "When he's out there we're able to function through some adversity."
As a team, The Beach shot 50 percent from the field on 29-of-58 shooting including 8-of-16 from beyond the arc. Individually, three other 49ers scored in double digits including Greg Plater, who hit on 4-of-6 from 3-point range, Eugene Phelps, who scored 13 points, and Larry Anderson with 10 points.
After losing their season opener to No. 25 San Diego State in front of a record crowd at the Walter Pyramid, the 49ers started off the first half against the Gators a little slow until Ware sparked a 26-10 run to end the first half by shooting 5-of-7 from the field. The Beach never looked back after that and took a 36-25 lead into the locker room while hitting on 15-of-31 from the field.
Down 15-10 midway through the first, Long Beach State went on a 10-0 run to take a five-point lead highlighted by three quick baskets by Ware.
San Francisco State hit a bucket to cut the lead to three, but The Beach answered right back with an 8-0 run capped off by a Ware jump shot. Phelps closed out the first half scoring for both sides after finishing off a fast break sparked by Ware's steal at the other end.
LBSU picked up right where it left off with an 11-3 run to begin the second half. Plater got the scoring started with his first 3-pointer of the game, then Phelps pushed the lead to 16 when he converted on a three-point play. Ware's alley-oop to Larry Anderson gave the 49ers a 21-point lead.
The Gators scored their first three points of the half on free throws and didn't get their first field goal until more than six minutes in. Plater gave The Beach its biggest lead of the game when he drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put the 49ers up by 22 at 52-30.
San Francisco State stayed in it with a couple of buckets, but eight straight points by Lin Chang, including back-to-back 3-pointers, stretched LBSU's lead back to 22 points.
"Having Lin Chang healthy and getting extra minutes today was really beneficial to the team," Monson said.
The Gators refused to go away and got the game back to 64-50 after going on a 12-4 run.
After that, Ware sparked The Beach again with a 3-pointer from downtown to give the 49ers a 67-50 lead. Marquel Hoskins got the Gators back to within 14 points when he banked a short jumper off the glass, but it was all Long Beach State the rest of the way.
Plater knocked down two 3-pointers with less than two minutes left in the game to secure the 82-65 victory for Long Beach State.
