Monson, in his fourth season at Long Beach, led the 49ers to the Big West Conference regular-season championship and a spot in the National Invitation Tournament. The 49ers finished the season with a 22-12 record, including a 14-2 mark in league play. The 49ers won the Big West Conference regular-season championship by four games over runner-up Cal Poly. LBSU ran off an 11-game winning streak that was snapped in the championship game of the Big West Conference Tournament.
Monson was also named the Big West Conference Coach of the Year in a vote of the league’s coaches, and all five of the 49ers starters claimed all-league recognition.
Junior Caspar Ware became the first player in league history to win both the conference’s player of the year award and the defensive player of the year honor. Ware claimed first-team All-Big West Conference recognition, while also being named to the NABC and U.S. Basketball Writers of America all-district teams.
Junior Larry Anderson earned first-team All-Big West honors, as well as NABC second-team All-District 9 accolades.
Junior T.J. Robinson was named second-team All-Big West, while junior Eugene Phelps and senior Greg Plater were both named honorable mention All-Big West Conference.