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The Long Beach State men\u2019s basketball team kicked off their highly anticipated 2009-2010 season with an exhibition win over D-II Alaska-Anchorage. In a 86-65 victory for the supremely athletic and talented team that built a hefty first half lead and then nonchalantly traded baskets with the Seawolves the rest of the way.<\/p>\n
Sophomore guard Larry Anderson led the 49ers with 18 points in an efficient effort, shooting 5-8 from the field and 6-8 from the free throw line along with 7 assists, 5 steals and just one turnover.\u00a0 Sophomore point guard Casper Ware added 16 points and 6 assists (though he committed 5 turnovers).\u00a0 All five starters scored in double figures for Long Beach.<\/p>\n
The 49ers were far more athletic than the Seawolves, and showed it early by breezing to easy scores around the basket.\u00a0 Head coach Dan Monson said that he was pleased with the first fifteen minutes of his team\u2019s performance, but not what followed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they want to grow into a team that can win a league championship, we\u2019ve got to grow into a team that can maintain a lead,\u201d he said after the game.\u00a0 \u201cTrading baskets just drives you crazy as a coach because they showed you in the first half that it doesn\u2019t have to be that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Long Beach shot 52.6% from the field, but also committed 19 turnovers and were outrebounded by the smaller Seawolves, 36-34.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just getting complacent as far as being up,\u201d said Anderson.\u00a0 \u201cIt was obvious that the first fifteen minutes we had a lot of steals and things. We just need to avoid getting complacent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anderson and Ware were singled out by coach Monson as two players that performed well in the opener.\u00a0 He also mentioned being pleased with the defense and rebounding of freshman forward Kyle Richardson, and that junior guard Greg Plater will score more in the future than his 8-point effort on 3-7 shooting.<\/p>\n
Monson was not as high on the defense of his other post players, however.\u00a0 Senior Andrew Fleming had three blocks in just nine minutes of playing time, but Monson says he expects more of the center.\u00a0 He also pointed out foul trouble that Phelps and senior Arturas Lazdauskas ezperienced.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween them they had ten fouls in 20 minutes,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s going to happen because they\u2019re playing the five-spot [center] at six-foot-seven.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 49ers were indeed weak on the inside once Alaska Anchorage penetrated past the first line of the defense.\u00a0 In the second half especially, the Seawolves were surprisingly effective near the basket. <\/p>\n
Long Beach sometimes employed a half- or full-court press that left Phelps or Lazdauskas to defend the basket, and while it achieved some measure of success by creating steals or throwing the Seawolves out of their offensive rhythm, it also left them vulnerable to attack at times.\u00a0 This, coupled with a hungry defense that was sometimes overeager for steals or blocked shots allowed Alaska Anchorage to penetrate and create shots for themselves.<\/p>\n
Monson said that the somewhat sloppy defense may have had something to do with the team\u2019s excitement in their first home game.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I guess,\u201d he said, when asked.\u00a0 \u201cBut I am not going to make excuses for those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even without all the kinks yet worked out, the 49er defense was effective in applying on-ball pressure and filling the Seawolves\u2019 passing lanes.\u00a0 Long Beach racked up 14 steals, many of which led to fastbreak opportunities \u2013 where the 49ers excel.<\/p>\n
Richardson sparked some of those opportunities with a nose for the ball and good instincts.\u00a0 Where fellow forward Phelps too often attempted to outleap his opponent for rebounds, Richardson put himself in good position and twice fired rifle outlet passes that sparked transition.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Near the end of the first half, Richardson stole the ball from a driving Seawolf and lofted a perfect lead pass down the court to a streaking Greg Plater for a layup.\u00a0 Coach Monson said that Richardson played well in his first outing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s something I\u2019ve been doing since high school,\u201d Richardson said of the outlet passes.\u00a0 \u201cI was just excited to get out there and play finally. I was nervous at first but once I got out there I settled down.\u201d<\/p>\n
The freshman is not yet a polished product. Monson mentioned that in perfect circumstances, he would have liked to have redshirted Richardson to continue his development.<\/p>\n
Those rough edges were shown on back-to-back plays in the second half, when Richardson missed a jump hook and was called for a foul on the rebound, and on the following possession was called for traveling during a spin move.\u00a0 He\u2019s not refined, but he\u2019ll surely have chances to contribute this season.<\/p>\n
Everyone has a chance to contribute on this 49er team. The flexing motion offense allows players to improvise as they see opportunities to fire or isolate a teammate.\u00a0 Long Beach State ran very few set plays, although a high screen and roll from the left side once resulted in a nice pass from Casper Ware to a rolling T.J. Robinson for a dunk, and then a Larry Anderson three-pointer off space from a Kyle Richardson screen.\u00a0 This offense will have plenty of success just by moving the ball and capitalizing on their size and speed advantages, but they also showed an ability to execute in a halfcourt set when necessary.<\/p>\n
Even though the game was just a season-opening exhibition, there will be plenty for the coaching staff to take away from the performance as the 49ers prepare for a Tuesday night date at Pepperdine.<\/p>\n
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