<\/div>\n 20:00 before tip-off<\/span><\/p>\n OK, here’s the skinny. <\/p>\n The rumor floating around about Donovan Morris’ foot is true: definitely bothering him. Sources have told us that the problem has been lingering for a few days and he’s been having soreness. X-rays came back negative and the initial thought was a stress fracture, but that’s just a theory at this point.<\/p>\n What I can tell you is that the 49ers are going through lay-up lines right now and D-Mo isn’t in them. He stretched for a short while earlier and is now getting work done near the bench. I’ll let you know more as we see more.<\/p>\n It would also behoove you to show up tonight if you’re able – about 100 Fullerton students just came through the doors and there’s a sea of orange and blue in the West seats. CSULB students back from winter break for the first time should be filing in shortly, and it’s about to get messy in here.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n 15:00 before tip-off<\/span><\/p>\n I can definitely say that Morris is favoring a foot (The right one? Hard to tell), but he finished up the pregame drills and is shooting without any noticable trouble. That’s good news for the 49ers, but if I were you I’d be more concerned about Long Beach coming out stronger than they did against Riverside than Morris’ foot.<\/p>\n Ha! Caught some of the Fullerton students dancing while the Long Beach band plays. No matter your affiliation, the Beach band rocks. UPDATE: Definitely the right foot.<\/p>\n Why this is a problem<\/span>: Much of the space for Morris’ jumpshot is created with his jab steps and fakes. That’ll be difficult on a bum foot – whether it’s broken or stressed or just sore. 4:00 before tip-off<\/p>\n Former Long Beach State head coach and legendary basketball mind Tex Winter will be honored during a timeout tonight. The occasion has brought out such former ‘Niner greats as Ed Ratleff and Craig Hodges. Ye of the nine NBA Championships coached here for five seasons in the 70’s, and took some time to speak with me before the game. The full interview will be posted on the site later tonight, but here’s a taste:<\/p>\n RZ:<\/span> Have you gotten a chance to see Long Beach play this season? RZ:<\/span> What’d ya think? Oh Tex! Sharp as ever, that one.<\/p>\n GAMETIME<\/span><\/p>\n Morris is in the starting lineup, and this is now officially the most time I have ever devoted to writing about another man’s foot.<\/p>\n Fullerton has a couple of scoring options at the guard and wing positions, which works into Long Beach’s favor because their guards are strong defensively. The real question will be what kind of plan Monson has to slow down the Titan’s 5’11” Josh Akognon – a scoring machine. They’ll definitely use more than one defender to keep him in check. I’d predict Steph Gilling gets the assignment.<\/p>\n The ‘Niners will also have to be careful heading into the lane, where 6’8″ Papa Guisse and his long arms have wreaked havoc on opponents all year long.<\/p>\n 0-2 Fullerton<\/span><\/p>\n Gilling draws Akognon and 6’7″ Regan Anderson draws Morris, who catches off a screen and misses an 18-footer. Ray Miller scores in the lane for the game’s first points. Whoa. Two minutes in, Monson empties the bench after two quick turnovers. Larry Anderson now draws Akognon duties, then finds T.J. Robinson underneath for the Beach’s first bucket. Does a full line change ever work as a motivation tool? We’ll find out, as the 49ers continue to look jittery. Another turnover and Robinson airballs a 12-footer. Is it early game nerves? That can happen with four freshmen, and there are three (Anderson, Robinson and Eugene Phelps) on the floor right now. Could be the large Titan fan base or the huge crowd – it’s the students’ first game since break, plus Greek night. Fullerton’s not doing much better, shooting 2-7 from the field so far.<\/p>\n Out of a timeout, Monson keeps the second string lineup in. Robinson hits two of two from the line.<\/p>\n 14-10 Long Beach<\/span><\/p>\n Gilling and Ware re-enter the game, and Morris remains on the bench. Gilling draws Akognon, who has scored just two so far on a broken play.<\/p>\n Akognon may not be the quickest guard the 49ers have faced this season – I’d give that to Oregon<\/a>‘s Tajuan Porter – or the purest scorer – Temple<\/a>‘s Dionte Christmas – but he’s a great combination of the two. Gilling and Anderson have done a great job denying and pressuring so far, and it’ll need to stay that way for the duration.<\/p>\n Morris has re-entered at 11:00.<\/p>\n 21-16 Long Beach<\/span><\/p>\n A Gilling three is answered by one from the Titans’ Chris Rhymes, and Monson is going with the Beach Babies* lineup – wherein three or more freshmen are in at the same time. This strategy has been employed usually when the 49ers try to use an energy spark off the bench to go on a big run while the opposition tires itself out. Anderson is on the point with Gilling and Morris, while Robinson and Phelps are down low. Gilling is on Akognon but the 49ers aren’t afraid to switch Robinson or Anderson on him.<\/p>\n Ware comes in for Morris, so we’ve got all four young’ns + Gilling. Fourteen minutes into the game, the 49ers’ leading scorer doesn’t have a point. You gotta think the foot is bothering him.<\/p>\n *This is the nickname we use to avoid any unfortunate “Fab Four” cliches.<\/p>\n
11:00 before tip-off<\/span><\/p>\n
Why this isn’t that big a deal<\/span>: D-Mo often gets looks created for him with off-ball screens that won’t require much more than a plant and lift to get the shot off. (I’m fishing for positives at this point)<\/p>\n
TW:<\/span> Last week against Riverside.<\/p>\n
TW:<\/span> They’re better than they showed. Kind of like us [Lakers] against the Bobcats the other night!<\/p>\n
2-2<\/span><\/p>\n
4-4<\/span><\/p>\n