Long Beach State University
(2-0)
Pittsburgh
(2-1)
49ers knock off No. 9 Pitt
11/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2011
CLICK HERE FOR POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
CLICK HERE FOR POST-GAME INTERVIEWS & COMMENTS COURTESY OF ESPN.COM
Pittsburgh, Pa. - Long Beach State got the signature win it was looking for at Pitt on Wednesday night. Casper Ware scored a career-high 28 points to lead four 49ers in double figures as the 49ers handed No. 9 Pittsburgh an 86-76 loss at the Petersen Events Center in front of 8,215.
The 49ers win snapped a 58-game home non-conference win streak by the Panthers, and was just the second win by a non-conference opponent in the last 109 games at Pitt.
"I'm proud of them," Long Beach State coach Dan Monsonsaid. "It's a great start for the year, but it's a long year. This game puts us on the national radar now for the next 48 hours, but we have to go to San Diego State on Saturday and if we don't take care of business there, then it's all for not. This is a veteran group and our goal is to not let that happen."
"We're going to enjoy this, and it's great for a mid-major because we'll be recognized a little bit, Monson added. "This group hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament yet and I think we would trade this for that. That goal at the end of the year is not attained in one game. We have a lot of work ahead of us."
James Ennis, playing in just his second career game for Long Beach State, gave Pitt fits on both ends of the floor. The 49er wing scored 19 points, handed out six assists, grabbed five steals and pulled down four rebounds. He converted on 6-of-10 shots, while making 2-of-5 from three and 5-of-6 free throws. Ennis was the key in LBSU outscoring Pitt 25-5 on fast breaks and 48-31 in the paint.
Larry Anderson added 12 points, while tying his career high with seven assists for the second straight game. T.J. Robinson added 11 points and eight rebounds for the 49ers who shot 59.9 percent (32-for-54) for the game. Eugene Phelpschipped in eight points and seven rebounds.
Long Beach State controlled the first half leading by as many as 11, 45-36, with less than a minute to play before the break. The 49ers shot a blazing 66.7 percent (18-of-27) from the floor while making 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from 3-point range.
Ware led the 49ers with 14 first-half points, while Ennis added 13. Four other 49ers scored at least four points with Edis Dervisevicadding six off the bench.
Pitt stayed within nine at the half with some good shooting of its own. The Panthers made 55.6 percent (15-of-27) of their shots, while canning 3-of-6 from three. Nasir Robinson led all scorers with 15 first-half points.
The two teams traded hoops early in the game with eight lead changes. Pitt had a 14-12 early lead with 13:46 to play, but LBSU went on an 11-2 run to build a seven-point lead. Dervisevic scored four points in transition during the spurt and Ennis capped it with a three.
Pitt battled back with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 25-25, then after the teams traded hoops to make it 29-29, the 49ers went on an 8-2 run to take a 37-31 lead on a 3-pointer by Ware.
Ashton Gibbs cut the lead to three with a long 3-pointer with 2:46 to play, but LBSU scored the next eight points to take its biggest lead of the half. Ware started it with an old-fashioned three-point play. Ennis added a layup from Ware and a free throw the next possession to make it 43-34. Dervisevic finished the run with a turnaround jumper to make it 45-34, before Pitt added a hoop with 14 seconds to play.
Long Beach State (2-0) never let Pitt (2-1) back in the game. Ware scored 14 more points after the break as LBSU built the lead to as many as 12 four times and never let Pitt get closer than six.
"We expected to win this game," Ware said. "In the locker room before the game, we knew we were going to win this game."
