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Date Posted: 08:16:16 02/14/02 Thu
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Tigers take on 49ers

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Originally Published Thursday, February 14, 2002
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Home cooking good for Tigers

Pacific yet to lose to Big West team at Spanos Center

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

The University of the Pacific men's basketball team is home this week for two Big West games with little more to play for than pride and seeding in the conference tournament.

But that's enough incentive for senior center Mike Preston, who said his team still hasn't played as well as it can.

''We don't want to be in the position of being the seventh or eighth seed in the Big West Tournament,'' Preston said. ''We want to build confidence going into the tournament.''

The Tigers (14-8, 6-6 Big West) have played like a confident team at home. They are the only Big West team yet to lose at home in conference play this season at 5-0. But that mark will be severely challenged by Long Beach State (8-16, 4-9) today, and by UC Irvine (17-7, 10-3) on Saturday. Both games will begin at 7 p.m. at Spanos Center.

Pacific has lost six in a row to the 49ers, including a 78-74 decision on Jan. 19 in Long Beach, and five consecutive regular-season meetings with the Anteaters, who are tied atop the conference standings with Utah State.

''Last year, I think twice we should have beaten (Long Beach State),'' Pacific coach Bob Thomason said. ''But their athletic ability and quickness have caused us problems.''

In their previous meeting, Pacific led the 49ers by six points but faltered the final four minutes and lost 78-74. The Tigers committed 18 turnovers, a common malady on the road, and didn't block out Long Beach State's strong post player Travis Reed on a critical play with less than a minute remaining.

It was Reed's offensive rebound and ensuing 3-point play with 20 seconds remaining that broke a 74-74 tie and led the 49ers to their second conference win this season.

''We're going to have to defend them and take care of the ball,'' Thomason said. ''They rely on turnovers to get their offense going.''

The Tigers currently find themselves in sixth place because of their inability to win on the road. Pacific is 1-6 away from home in conference play after losses at UC Santa Barbara, 70-57 on Feb. 7, and at Cal Poly, 84-79 on Saturday. The players and coaches are frustrated by their play on the road.

''We want to prove to ourselves we can win on the road,'' said Preston, whose team has two more road games before the Big West Tournament. ''We need to do that.''

But if any team could be more frustrated than the Tigers at this point, it would have to be Long Beach State.

The 49ers were picked to finish fourth by the media and coaches in the preseason polls, but they are languishing in ninth place, and their coach, Wayne Morgan, who's in his sixth season, already has announced his intention to resign at the end of the season.

Thomason said he tried to contact Morgan earlier this week to wish him well.

''I think he's done a good job,'' Thomason said of Morgan. ''He's recruited good players and I think he's a class act.''

Thomason also knows Morgan's group is dangerous because it has little more to play for than pride and tournament seeding. The 49ers already know they can beat the Tigers home or away.

''Their speed and quickness on the perimeter and athletic ability inside are two major factors that have hindered us from getting wins against them,'' Preston said. ''We have to play defense and rebound and cut off their penetration as much as possible. But that's the same in every game.''

The Tigers have been more successful executing their gameplans at home. They don't want to stop now.

* To reach reporter Bob Highfill, phone 546-8299 or e-mail bhighfil@recordnet.com

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