Long Beach State University
6-6
Eastern New Mexico
9-4
Four 49ers score in double figures in win over Eastern New Mexico
12/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2011
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LONG BEACH, Calif. - James Ennis scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures in Long Beach State's 76-54 win over Eastern New Mexico Monday night at the Walter Pyramid.
Ennis connected on 5-of-9 shots, including a pair of three pointers. Larry Anderson added 14 points, Eugene Phelps 11, Casper Ware 10 and Mike Caffey had a season-high nine points. T.J. Robinsonled all rebounders with eight, while Anderson added seven.
Stefan Mirabel led Eastern New Mexico (9-4) with 19 points, but the Greyhounds finished with 20 turnovers.
The 49ers (5-5) built a 14-point halftime lead on a balanced attack that saw LBSU shoot 56.3 percent (18-of-32) from the floor, while forcing 14 ENMU turnovers. Five players scored at least six points before the break, while eight total 49ers scored. Edis Dervisevicled the 49ers with eight first-half points, and three assists, on 4-of-5 shooting. Caffey chipped in seven of his points on 3-of-4 shooting.
Ennis added six points, three assists and three steals, while Anderson had six points, two assists and three steals. Ware scored six points.
LBSU took control of the game with an 8-0 spurt over a four minute stretch midway through the first half to build a 23-12 lead. Ennis highlighted the run with a pair of baskets, including a dunk. Dervisevic and Anderson both added hoops.
Mirabal snapped the 8-0 run with a 3-pointer for the Greyhounds, but the 49ers countered with a 13-4 stretch to take their biggest lead of the half, 36-19. Ware hit back-to-back threes to spark LBSU. Ennis added another hoop before freshman Nick Shepherdscored to make it 33-19. A Robinson free throw and a hoop by Caffey got the lead to 17.
Eastern New Mexico made a run early in the second half scoring the first seven points of the half in two minutes, but Long Beach State retaliated with a 14-5 spurt over the next five minutes to push the lead back to 16.
The Greyhounds could never get closer than 12 the rest of the way.
The 49ers shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58) from the floor, while making 40 percent (6-of-15) from three. LBSU out-rebounded ENMU 36-28 and outscored the Greyhounds 48-28 in the paint.
Long Beach State now travels to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu. The 49ers open with No. 14 Xavier on Thursday at 8 p.m. (PT). The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
