BOX SCOREAfter being manhandled by No. 8 West Virginia and hanging close, but still losing, to No. 19 Clemson, Long Beach State got back in the win column a way they never have before - by beating UCLA.
Sophomore forward T.J. Robinson led the Beach with 25 points and 13 rebounds, on his way to earning all tourney honors, and sophomore guard Casper Ware surged in the second half, scoring all 11 of his points in the second period to give LBSU (4-3) their first win over their cross town rivals in 11 attempts Sunday at the Anaheim Convention Center in the final round of the 76 Classic.
After being blown out by Portland, UCLA (2-4) sealed the match up with the Beach after losing to No. 10 Butler in the closing seconds of their second round contest with the Bulldogs.
Sunday’s game, to decide 7th place in the 8 team field, started sloppy, with neither team scoring until UCLA guard Jerime Anderson hit a jumper at the 17:14 mark. Early play was marred by missed opportunities on both sides, and careless play by LBSU, leading to 10 first half turnovers.
The Bruins were able to build a lead as high as seven points with 7:30 left in the first half, but some strong inside play by Robinson, including a tip-in at the buzzer, led to a 32 - 31 halftime lead for the Beach.
LBSU came out firing in the second half, led by the continued low post presence of Robinson and Ware attacking the rim. Senior outside shooter Stephan Gilling knocked down a couple of clean jump shots for the Beach, sophomore forward Eugene Phelps helped Robinson down low and sophomore guard Larry Anderson was able to shake off a wretched cold streak to lead LBSU on what would eventually be a 19 - 9 run in the second half, ballooning the 49ers lead to 17 points.
Though UCLA was able to cut the lead to within 10 at the 6:17 mark, The Bruins would never get closer than that, as the final horn sounded with the score board reading 79 - 68 in favor of Long Beach Stat. For the first time. Ever.
The Bruins were led by senior guard Michael Roll, who scored 23 points, freshman forward Reeves Nelson was the only other UCLA player to reach double digit points with 11.
Gilling finished with 13 points, while junior shooting guard Greg Plater added 10 points off the bench for LBSU.
The game was full of firsts for UCLA, all being bad. First time the Bruins had lost to LBSU, first time they had failed to win at least one game in an 8 team tournament, first time UCLA had lost to two members of the Big West Conference (CSU Fullerton beat the Bruins earlier this season in double OT at Pauley Pavillion.)
There was one other first in the game, the first signature win for third year Long Beach State head coach Dan Monson.
The Beach’s continued tough pre-season schedule gives Monson more opportunities for a few more of those this year, though they will be much tougher tasks as the 49ers next head to Austin, Texas to face the No. 3 ranked Longhorns.
Trips to top 10 teams Kentucky and Duke are also on the horizon.
But for now, after wrapping up Thanksgiving weekend, the 49ers can be thankful for facing UCLA. For once.
LBPostSports.com write up of game
LA Times game story
Column by OC Register's Mark Whicker
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