Come and get it! The 49ers (10-11, 4-4) look for revenge as they host the visiting Titans (10-10, 4-4) in the Pyramid. Let off some steam and follow along as we blog the game live from media row.
I’ll be updating the game score with thoughts and analysis as Long Beach State rides a two-game winning streak into this showdown rivalry. It’s a must-win if the 49ers expect their preseason Conference Champion predictions to materialize.
Last time these two met, Fullerton absolutely out-worked Long Beach and looked about ten times more athletic in the process. Meanwhile, the 49ers panicked and started chucking up jump shots as they sometimes do. Since then, Long Beach has regained a little balance but the team is still on wobbly ground. A home win against their main rivals would go a long way. What are your keys to the game?
Tip-off at 8:00pm!
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7:04pm: Backup point guard Jesse Woodard is in street clothes and will not be playing for the 49ers tonight. He apparently injured his foot in an accident. Long Beach State media relations director Todd Miles says the foot is swollen and there is no indication of the severity of the injury. We’ll let you know if we hear more.
Does this mean we’ll see some of freshman Jerramy King tonight? More likely, it means Casper Ware will play almost the entire game and we’ll probably see Larry Anderson take over some ball-handling duties (which can be both a blessing and a curse). What do you think?
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7:16pm: We’re still forty minutes away from tip-off and the student section is already packed here in the Pyramid. Packed and angry. The booing started early, as soon as Fullerton players took to the court to warm up. Then, a steady procession of Fullerton fans entered the gym and chants of “Long Beach Rejects!” echoed into the rafters. This is going to be a hostile environment. Perfect.
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7:31pm: It will be interesting to see how Long Beach fights Fullerton’s athleticism tonight. The Titans looked far more energetic and enthusiastic the last time they met. The 49ers used a little 2-3 zone in their win over UC Davis last week, will they bring it out again tonight? On the other side of the ball, Long Beach looked downright timid against the Fullerton defense and they’ll need to be much more aggressive. Here are some players to watch on both sides:
Long Beach
Casper Ware: Will control the tempo for Long Beach and needs to make sure the 49ers are attacking on offense. Also the 49ers’ best clutch offensive weapon.
Eugene Phelps: Has been Long Beach’s best player over the last two games, and another strong performance will free up space in the post for T.J. Robinson to do some damage. If hecan sscore and stay out of foul trouble, it’s a good omen for the 49ers.
Fullerton
Jacques Streeter: Killed the 49ers from the three-point line and used his quickness to penetrate early and often. He’s got Bobby Brown-type potential but isn’t as developed just yet.
Gerard Anderson: The superathletic 6-foot-6 forward torched Long Beach with a flurry of three-pointers and explosive dunks. Anderson made the 49ers’ interior defense look like cotton candy in their last meeting.
I need to go get a Coke but I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.
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7:48pm: Both teams are riding a two-game winning streak, and both come into this showdown with identical 4-4 Big West records. The tension in the air is thick, and you get the sense that both teams know how important this game is. Not to mention that we’re live on ESPNU tonight. Considering that these two teams are probably the most athletic in the conference, I think whichever team attacks first is going to have a huge advantage tonight. Fullerton takes to the court.
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7:56pm: Your starting lineups:
Long Beach: Eugene Phelps, T.J. Robinson, Larry Anderson, Casper Ware, Stephan Gilling
Fullerton: Jacques Streeter, Aaron Thompson, Bryce Webster, Gerard Thompson, Jer’Vaughn Johnson
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8-8 15:43 – Both teams come out in man defense but switch to zone defenses after made baskets. The 49ers have certainly come out with more aggression on both sides of the ball, but their continued troubles with getting out of position defensively have cost them already. They’re so much better when they stick to man defense; I don’t understand the infatuation with the fullcourt press. A pick and roll with Casper Ware ended in a Eugene Phelps tomahawk dunk to bring us to this score.
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10-10 13:11 – After torching the 49ers in the first meeting, Fullerton forward Gerard Anderson has so far been whistled for an offensive foul and missed an open three-pointer. Larry Anderson doing an intense defensive job thus far. The entire crowd is still standing.
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12-10 Long Beach, 11:58 – Long Beach guard Larry Anderson looking extremely aggressive tonight. He’s attempted some open shots and just penetrated the Fullerton zone from the high post for an easy lay-in. Very good omen for the 49ers to have their most athletic player looking to score against the zone. Long Beach has stopped pressing after made baskets for the time being.
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16-15 Long Beach, 9:04 – Monster dunk by Andrew Fleming followed by a short jumper from Eugene Phelps gives the 49ers this cushion. Fleming took a pass from Ware and just stuffed it with a one-handed slam over a Titan. Fullerton has committed two straight turnovers.
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20-20, 7:05 – Larry Anderson in for Casper Ware, presumably to run the point. This is where we see the effect of the injury to Jesse Woodard. Both teams fighting for every inch and each possession is a war. Titan guard Devon Peltier drains an open three-pointer to tie us up. The 49ers really have trouble with leaving good shooters open on the perimeter and that will need to stop if they want to win the Big West.
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26-23 Fullerton, 4:53 – Despite giving up two inches in height, Titan guard Aaron Thompson is doing a commendable defensive job on 49er guard Larry Anderson. Very tough, in-your-face pressure. Ware drains a three-pointer and Fullerton’s Orane Chin answers with a bucket. A 49er turnover and a Thompson jumper put Long Beach down. The 49ers need to cut out the turnovers and stop losing their match-ups on defense or Fullerton will eat them alive.
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32-23 Fullerton, 1:55 – Fullerton nails back-to-back threes while Long Beach has missed their last two 3-point attempts. This is usually the point where the 49ers try to shoot themselves back into the game and it usually doesn’t work. They need to continue to attack the basket from the inside-out.
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36-24 Fullerton, HALF – Long Beach ended the first half with an errant pass that Aaron Thompson took in for a dunk, then the 49ers missed another three-pointer on their last possession. They started out hot but lost focus in the final ten minutes, losing track of their defensive assignments and simply throwing the ball away on too many occasions. Fullerton is taking advantage of every situation afforded to them and should be commended for that. Long Beach will need a fresh start and new life to get back into this one.
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36-28 Fullerton, 18:33 – The second half starts like this: Fullerton missed jumper, Stephan Gilling made jumper, Eugene Phelps blocks a Fullerton shot, Casper Ware hits a floater, Fullerton time-out. The fans are still pumped up but the 49ers will need to keep this energy going throughout the game to have a chance.
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42-39 Fullerton, 14:31 – Long Beach started the second half on a 15-4 run but a jumper by Fullerton guard Aaron Thompson stopped the bleeding. The fans are absolutely electric and the Pyramid is jumping. Looks like we’re back to a slugfest. Casper Ware seems to have new life with 7 points in these last five minutes.
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44-40 Fullerton, 13:03 – Casper Ware seems to be playing off the ball with Larry Anderson running the point. This could be situational coincidence but at the moment it looks like strategy. I don’t get it. Streeter hits a really tough jumper and Gilling makes one of two free throws.
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44-42 Fullerton, 11:44 – Down by two, Long Beach tries to go for the jugular and promptly misses consecutive three-pointers. I don’t understand this team’s infatuation with the three-point shot. Timeout. Fullerton ball.
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47-46 Fullerton, 9:58 – Consecutive buckets from Eugene Phelps and Andrew Fleming give Long Beach their first lead in a long while. But Fullerton forces a turnover and Gerard Anderson gets the lead right back for the Titans with a layup.
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50-48 Fullerton, 8:34 – We’ve changed leads four times in the last minute.
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50-50, 8:02 – Fleming tips in a Larry Anderson miss to tie the game. Excellent showing by the 7-footer tonight.
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57-52 Fullerton, 6:17 – Fullerton forward Jer’Vaughn Johnson spins his way to a bucket to cap a quick run by Fullerton. Timeout.
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59-53 Fullerton, 5:20 – Long Beach goes back to the fullcourt pressure after made baskets. This cannot end well. The 49ers continue to struggle from the free-throw line and can’t contain Johnson or Anderson inside. Luckily, the Titans continue to make ball-handling mistakes that are keeping Long Beach in this game.
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59-57 Fullerton, 4:11 – No question about it: Long Beach is best when attacking the basket. Phelps muscles up a shot and Robinson and Anderson play volleyball with it before tipping it in. A hard-fought game is getting much more physical as the clock ticks down and the crowd gets antsy.
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64-59 Fullerton, 2:40 – Casper Ware is being uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball. Then gets burned on the other end by Jacques Streeter for a basket. Not Ware’s best night. On the other end, T.J. Robinson hits two free throws. Fleming checks back in. Looks like he’s going offense/defense with Eugene Phelps.
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64-64, 1:02 – Three outstanding consecutive steals by the quick hands of Casper Ware, the last two of which lead to fast break buckets. We’ve got a tie game!
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64-64, END REGULATION – Ware misses a fadeaway jumper as time expires and we’re headed to overtime. As the buzzer sounds, Ware falls to the floor and has to be tended to by the team trainer. He’s helped off the floor favoring his right ankle and doesn’t start the overtime period. Greg Plater replaces him.
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71-69 Fullerton, 3:07 – Long Beach hanging tough but Fullerton off to a hot start. Titan forward gerard Anderson makes a layup to put Fullerton up. Long Beach forward T.J. Robinson hits one of two free throws and CASPER WARE RETURNS TO THE GAME!
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71-69 Fullerton, 2:17 – Fullerton forward Jer’Vaughn Johnson fouls out of the game with 7 points and 9 rebounds. Timeout Titans.
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76-69 Fullerton, 0:57.2 – Dagger three-pointer by Fullerton guard Aaron Thompson. Meanwhile, Long Beach misses two consecutive three-pointers. Again, I don’t understand their infatuation with the longball.
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81-75 Fullerton, FINAL – That’s your game, folks. Fullerton gets the season sweep against Long Beach while the 49ers fall to 4-5 in Big West play. Tough one to swallow for Long Beach State. Full article coming later tonight. Thanks for joining in the fun on the live blog tonight. Peace.
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