Their record may currently read 1-0, but the basketball season officially begins for Long Beach State tonight, when the 49ers mosey into Malibu.

Saturday’s exhibition game against lowly D-II Alaska Anchorage played more like an intrasquad scrimmage, and while the 86-65 victory does count in the box score, it isn’t a game that Long Beach should be particularly proud of. The 49ers relied on athleticism rather than technique, and had glaring interior defense troubles.

Still, it was more than enough to do away with the Seawolves.

Tonight, they’ll face a more formidable opponent.

The Pepperdine Waves are a team in transition, not unlike recent Long Beach State overhauls, boasting just four upperclassmen – and exactly zero seniors – on their roster of sixteen. Thus far in the season, Pepperdine has only played one game, but there is much that can be learned from it.

The Waves stand at 0-1 overall after a double-overtime loss to Pacific, a roommate of Long Beach State in the Big West dorm. Pepperdine trailed by ten points with just two minutes remaining in the game, but mounted a spirited 12-2 run to force the game into overtime.  The Waves and Tigers traded baskets to force a second overtime, but Pacific eventually pulled away on the road to win 65-62.

On paper, things were not good for Pepperdine.  They allowed Pacific the victory despite shooting 2-19 from the three-point line and 9-21 from the free-throw line.  They shot just 38.2% from the field themselves, along with 3-12 from three and 19-33 from the line.  Still, behind 20 points from sophomore Keion Bell, the Waves were able to catch Pacific in a daze and fight their way back into the game.

Pepperdine relies heavily on Bell, an explosive slasher who led the Waves in scoring as a freshman last season. Against Pacific, the rest of Pepperdine’s starting five shot a nearly invisible 5-21 from the field. Pepperdine started a front line that measure 6-7, 6-8 and 6-10, yet it was the 6-3 Bell who led the team in rebounds with 10.

This is still a team struggling to cope with its overwhelming youth, and despite the talents of Bell and a round of freshmen that will see significant time this season, it’s easy to see why Pepperdine was picked to finish seventh of eight in the West Coast Conference (WCC) this season.

However, that doesn’t mean that Pepperdine won’t pose problems for Long Beach State.

In addition to Bell, the Waves can count on a solid – if unspectacular – effort from 6-8 junior forward Mychel Thompson, who didn’t shoot well against Pacific but is still a threat around the basket and even out to the arc.  Off the bench, 6-6 swingman Dane Suttle Jr. provides a nice complement to Bell, and the sophomore scored an efficient 13 points on 5-7 shooting against Pacific.

Ultimately, though, it is Bell that will gave the Waves a chance to win tonight.

The 49ers were not successful against athletic, scoring guards last season. Fullerton’s Josh Akognon and Riverside’s Kyle Austin handed Long Beach home losses. While Bell may not be as developed as those two polished gunners, the 49ers’ perimeter defense against Alaska Anchorage on Saturday does not exactly inspire confidence.

The Seawolves had little trouble penetrating past Long Beach’s first line of defense, particularly in the second half.  Undersized guards even had success in the paint, as the overeager 49ers too often reached for steals or prematurely leaped at pump fakes. The result?  Long Beach forwards Eugene Phelps and Arturas Lazdauskas each fouled out in a combined 21 minutes of play.

The 49ers will need a much more focused defensive effort against the Waves.

Of course, there are definite benefits working in Long Beach’s favor.

The three constants in last Saturday’s home opener were sophomores Casper Ware, Larry Anderson and T.J. Robinson – a fearsome threesome that seems to improve with each game they play together.  Ware looked every bit the lightning-quick floor leader that we remember from last season, though sporting an improved jump shot and relentless pressure defense. Anderson looked to be in excellent physical shape and, frankly, like one of the Big West’s best players as the 6-6 guard proved he can still fill up a box score and run the offense when Ware takes a break. Robinson was one of few 49ers to continually find the right position on the floor, using his now-trademark footwork to beat opponents to the basket and the glass for 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Freshman forward Kyle Richardson was also impressive, while better shooting is expected of guards Stephan Gilling and Greg Plater. But when the triumvirate is playing well, there are few in the Big West that can compete. The talented, balanced lineup could prove trouble early and often for Pepperdine.

For the 49ers, the real value in tonight’s game is to gauge how the team plays on the road against a team that they are expected to beat. There are high expectations in Long Beach this season, and the 49ers must handle the “gimmes” if they expect to contend with some of the national powers on their schedule. Notre Dame will be watching in anticipation of a rendezvous of their own against Long Beach State this Thursday.

Tonight’s contest will provide a better barometer than their opening victory, as watchful eyes from Long Beach to South Bend wait to see what the 49ers are truly made of.