Long Beach State University
3-3
Louisville
6-0
49ers drop battle at No. 6 Louisville
11/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2011
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Larry Anderson led four Long Beach State players in double figures but it wasn't enough as the 49ers dropped a 79-66 decision at No. 6 Louisville Monday in front of 20,468 at the KFC Yum! Center.
Casper Ware added 13 points and eight assists, while T.J. Robinson and James Ennis scored 12 points each. Robinson led the 49ers with seven rebounds as they out-rebounded Louisville 37-32. Eugene Phelps added eight points and five boards.
Chris Smith led Louisville (6-0) with 18 points as the Cardinals connected on 45.6 percent (26-of-57) of their shots. LBSU (3-3) made 45.5 percent (25-of-55), including 12-of-24 in the second half.
The Cardinals led by as many as 15, 55-40, in the second half, but they couldn't shake Long Beach State. Ware capped a 12-2 run with an old fashioned three-point play to cut the lead to 57-52 with 8:35 to play. Robinson scored four points during the stretch, with Anderson and Mike Caffey adding two points each.
Louisville answered with a free throw and a basket by Gorgui Dieng to extend the lead to eight before LBSU cut it to five again with 6:39 left on a free throw by Anderson and a hoop by Ware. Louisville closed the 49ers out with a 19-11 run, including 8-for-8 free throw shooting in the final two minutes.
The Cardinals started quick against the 49ers jumping out to an 8-0 lead 3:23 into the game thanks in part to three early turnovers by LBSU.
Long Beach State hung around cutting the lead to four, 13-9, on a dunk by Larry Anderson. Louisville answered going on a 22-10 run to build its biggest lead of the half, 35-19.
The 49ers rallied with an 8-0 run to narrow the lead back to eight, 35-27, before the Cardinals extended it back to a 12-point lead at the break.
Ennis led LBSU in the first half with nine points, while Ware (five assists), Anderson and Robinson all had six points.
Louisville forced 10 Long Beach State turnovers, with seven steals, and held a 16-8 advantage off turnovers. The Cardinals also connected on 6-of-9 threes, while shooting 55.2 percent from the floor. LBSU countered with 41.9 percent shooting (13-of-31), while out-rebounding U of L 19-14 with seven offensive boards.
