Every basketball player (no matter the level) has played with a streaky shooter, so you may know how frustrating it can be. But when they are on, oh buddy, give them the ball and get out of the way. 

After struggling mightily in the first three games, Stephan Gilling scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half to help Long Beach State knock off Green Bay 81-68 Saturday afternoon in the Resch Center.  The 49ers (3-1) lost to Green Bay last year in the Bracket Buster, and the revenge doubles as a huge win on the road for this young team. This is Long Beach’s best start since starting 3-1 in the 1996-97 season.

Gilling was the key to a quick start ( 7-for-11, 6-of-10 from 3-point) as he outscored his teammates 20-18 ( 7-for-11, 6-of-10 from 3-point) before the break where Long Beach State held a 38-31.

“I think it was a great step in the right direction,” head coach Dan Monson told the media after the game. “The preseason is all about growing and we grew today. I was really pleased, except for the first four possessions of the second half, I thought we defended really well and offensively we moved the ball really well.”

“Steph was really crucial… He got us off to a great start. Then I thought it was a very good team effort from there on. Larry had a “Larry Game” as we will probably start calling them now. Gene and T.J. got hit in the mouth early but they both really settled down inside for us and Casper did a great job as the floor general, and I was really pleased with our bench.”

Green Bay (4-2) climbed back into the game early in the second half outscoring the 49ers 11-4 to tie the game 42-42 with 17:53 to play. The Beach rallied retaking the lead and with a free throw and led the rest of the way.

Larry Anderson and Eugene Phelps took over the scoring load in the second half. Anderson scored 15 of his 17 after the intermission, while Phelps had nine of his career-high 15 points in the second half. Phelps went 4-for-4 from the floor in the second half, while Anderson made 4-of-5 shots after the break. LBSU shot 62.5 percent (15-of-24) in the second half and 53.7 percent (29-of-54) for the game. 

T.J. Robinson and Casper Ware each scored nine points for the 49ers, while Phelps led The Beach with eight rebounds. Greg Plater had a career-high seven assists off the bench.

Long Beach State returns to action Thursday morning when the 49ers play No. 8 West Virginia at 11am in the first game of the 76 Classic in the Anaheim Convention Center. 

Come Back to LBPOSTsports.com for the full coverage of that game.

With Reports From LBSU