The Long Beach State men’s basketball team returned to the Walter Pyramid after three straight losses during a cross-country road trip, only to continue their losing ways by fumbling and stumbling against a team that’s not very good and didn’t play very well.

The 49ers committed 19 turnovers, many of them unforced, and missed several shots in the paint, while being outrebounded 44-29.  Montana State had nearly as many offensive rebounds (17) as the Beach had defensive rebounds (20).  Freshman Larry Anderson led the team with 13 points, while Stephan Gilling chipped in 12 and Casper Ware scored 11.  Leading scorer Donovan Morris came off the bench to shoot 2-7 and score 6 points.

“I didn’t really deserve to start,” Morris said after the game.  “I’ve been playing like that in the last couple of games and practices.”

Head coach Dan Monson had few answers for the 49ers’ fourth straight loss.

“These preseason games are to find out who you are, and unfortunately we’re finding things that are not good,” he said, explaining that some players are not performing well individually and the frustration is creating a disjointed atmosphere.

“Everything we’re trying seems to be making things worse,” he said.  “How many games are we going to lose before we get back o the same page?”

The struggling 49ers will not catch a break with their next opponent, as they prepare to host Temple on Monday.