<\/div>\nSure, it’s a brand new team. But Friday night, the Long Beach State 49ers started the 2008-09 season just like the one before it: with a loss to BYU.<\/p>\n
Only, this one ended not with a 40-point drubbing in the Pyramid, but with a ten-point loss that showed promise from a young team figthing to redeem itself from a 6-25 campaign last season. Senior Donovan Morris led The Beach with 13 points on 5-14 shooting, and the 49ers even held a seven-point lead at halftime.<\/p>\n
But the Cougars and their go-to-guy were too strong down the stretch, as senior Lee Cummard scored 36 points on 13-16 shooting and BYU outscored Long Beach State 44-27 in the second half. The game would end at 75-65.<\/p>\n
The 49ers shot 46.9% from the field in the first half, a promising statistic from a team that will likely work to find its own identity deep into the preseason. Four freshmen played key minutes for Long Beach, and the 49ers showed their (lack of) age down the stretch, shooting just 34.5% in the second half.<\/p>\n
Steph Gilling scored 12 for the 49ers, while senior Cornel Williams added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Eugene Phelps led all freshmen with eight points, while fellow frosh Casper Ware added seven and three assists.<\/p>\n
Coach Dan Monson went with a mix of old and new to begin the game, starting freshman Ware at point guard, Gilling and Morris on the wings, and Williams alongside senior Brian Freeman in the post. <\/p>\n
The 49ers held their own on the boards, outrebounded by a count of 43-36. Coach Monson will surely not be pleased with 7-14 shooting from the free-throw line, however.<\/p>\n
Long Beach State travels now to Wisconsin to play the Badgers this Sunday.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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