Despite a seven point halftime lead, and 27 from leading scorer Donovan Morris, the 49ers dropped a winnable game to the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners in overtime, 80-77.

“We didn’t have answers defensively in the second half,” said coach Dan Monson.  “We got into a scoring contest and got outscored.”

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The loss drops the 49ers to a 4-14 overall record, and was the sixth loss that Long Beach has suffered by six points or less.  Monson knew his first year at the helm would be difficult, but admits that the losing is taking its toll on him.

“You know when you take this job the first year will be difficult,” he said.  “But that doesn’t make it any easier.”

The 49ers seemed to have turned a corner in their season with the Bakersfield game, as Monson began substituting players in a hockey-like shift style, nearly cleaning out his bench every three or four minutes.  The act seemed to be a sign that Monson was comfortable playing ten players deep at any time.

The all-for-one approach worked in the first half as the 49ers led by seven at the break.  Donovan Morris had just five points but was active defensively and was working to get his teammates involved.

But things changed when the Roadrunners came out gunning.  A 12-0 run gave Bakersfield a lead, and Long Beach began to rely solely on Morris’ shoulders.  He responded, constantly storming the rim with lay-ups and floaters.  When that didn’t work, he got to the free-throw line and shot 10-12 from the stripe in the 2nd half.

But Bakersfield answered a late Morris three to send the game into overtime, where Long Beach’s young guards committed costly turnovers.  Bakersfield hit their free throws down the stretch and pulled out the 80-77 win.

“I feel for [the players], because it was a game we could have won, and just couldn’t close out,” Monson said.  He maintained that his team’s late game inexperience was not the overriding factor in the loss.

“Some mistakes we continue to make whether it’s late or early in the game.”

Monson will now be faced with the challenge of finding consistent scorers to help Morris.  The 49ers are at their best when Morris scores within the flow of the offense, and is also allowed to create for his teammates (which he is also very adept at).

Long Beach is oozing with talent but is yet to find the rotation to maximize it through offensive cohesion.  When they do, the 49ers will be a legitimate threat to any team in the Big West on any night – on the backs of their role players.  

Until then, there may be more 27-point, 1-loss nights for D-Mo.

Freshman Greg Plater played well, but the 49ers will need more from guards like him in the future.