From LBPOSTSports.com: The difference between a team that’s learned how to win and a team that hasn’t was laid bare last night at Idaho State, as the Long Beach State men’s basketball team won their second straight overtime contest, and the hosting Bengals lost their third straight extra-minutes match, by a score of 88-82. Donovan Morris and Stephan Gilling, aka the Superman and Batman of the 49ers, were both huge factors in the win, scoring a combined 42.
As exciting as it is that the 49ers have learned to close competitive contests, this match, like Saturday’s victory over Weber State, was not without its problem spots. The Beach went up by fifteen in the first half, 30-15, on the strength of six Gilling three-pointers. Eight minutes later at halftime, the Bengals had gone on a 19-4 run to tie it at 34. Morris was held to one point off of a free throw, the 49ers were 2-7 from the free throw line, and were allowing Idaho State a 48% shooting percentage.
The second half was a see-saw affair, with the Bengals holding the advantage for the majority; they were ahead for the last two minutes of the game, until Morris dropped in two free throws to tie the game, sending it to overtime tied at 63. The first four points for the 49ers were scored by The Big A, Arturas Lazdauskas, and Casper Ware added a layup—but, hitting two foul shots to end the period, the Bengals tied it at 69, and the teams headed for double OT after Morris missed a jumper with time expiring.
Click here to read the rest of the story by Mike Guardabascio…