Long Beach State used a 26-1 run to come back and beat Weber State late last month. The Wildcats got back at the 49ers on Thursday night, as Weber State made eight second half 3-pointers to help build a double-digit lead and hold off Long Beach, 72-63, at the Dee Events Center in Provo, Utah.
The Wildcats connected on five 3-pointers in the first 7:10 of the second half to spark a 20-6 run to break open a game that was tied at the half. Weber State made 8-of-15 threes after the break, a vast improvement over the first half when the Wildcats connected on just 3-of-10 from long range.
Nick Hansen made three of Weber State’s second-half 3-pointers and finished with 12 points. Damian Lillard and Kellen McCoy led five Wildcats in double figures with 15 points each.
“I’m disappointed,” coach Dan Monson said. “This team needs to learn how to win. I was hoping we could learn from Saturday (loss at USF) and change some things. It seemed to be the same team that came out Saturday. We are struggling right now offensively. As a young team does on the road, finally our defense breaks and it really broke in the second half tonight.”
It looked like The Beach may be able to pull off its second double-digit rally this season against Weber State. Less than a month after overcoming a 23-point deficit to beat Weber State in overtime in Long Beach, the 49ers rallied to get as close as five points with 43 seconds to play. Weber State iced the game with four free throws in the last 31 second by Daviin Davis.
Freshmen T.J. Robinson and Larry Anderson led the 49ers. Robinson recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 boards. Anderson added 15 points and six assists. Donovan Morris scored 15 points, all coming in the final 11:25 of the game, snapping a five-game streak of 20 or more points for the senior.
LBSU started the game with four new starters alongside Morris. It worked early as the 49ers jumped to a 16-8 lead in the first seven minutes.
Surprisingly, Monson shifted the starting lineup and went with Robinson, Anderson, Morris, Arturas Lazdauskas, and Maurice Clady instead of emerging freshman Casper Ware. Ware ended up playing more minutes than Clady (23 to 14) and the duo only combined to 5 points and 3 assists.
The Wildcats charged back with a 12-4 run to take a 20-18 lead before The Beach tied the game at the half.
Robinson and Anderson, who both got their first career starts, sparked the 49ers in the first half combining for 18 of the team’s 27 points. Anderson led the way with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting while Robinson added eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. The rest of the 49ers combined to shoot 3-for-17 in the first half, including Morris’ 0-for-5.
Long Beach State travels to Syracuse for a 9 a.m. tip against the No. 13 Orange. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU, and LBPostSports.com will be at Legend’s to watch the contest, come join us.
From Reports By Long Beach State Sports Information Department