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Date Posted: 08:28:31 02/15/02 Fri
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Cold Shooting continues
In reply to: Jon Ralston 's message, "Tigers take on 49ers" on 08:16:16 02/14/02 Thu

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Originally Published Friday, February 15, 2002
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Disappointed Tigers feel a chill on home court, too

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

Playing in more familiar environs didn't help University of the Pacific on Thursday night.

The Tigers, who shot poorly in two road losses last week and are 1-6 in conference road games, were equally futile at Spanos Center. Pacific made 33.3 percent of its field goals, its second-worst percentage this season, and a season-low 46.7 percent from the free-throw line in a 77-63 loss to Long Beach State in front of 2,860.

"I'm disappointed, and I'm disappointed for our players and our fans," said Pacific coach Bob Thomason, whose teams have dropped seven in a row to the 49ers, dating to the 1998-99 season. "Everyone wants to know why we're shooting so bad, and I can't answer them. Whatever the reason, it's not happening now."

Pacific (14-9, 6-7 Big West) remained alone in sixth place in the conference; Long Beach State (9-16, 5-9) moved into a tie for eighth place with UC Riverside. The loss snapped the Tigers' eight-game home winning streak. Pacific was the last Big West team to lose a conference game at home this season, and conference-leading UC Irvine (18-7, 11-3) is due to arrive on Saturday.

"Under the circumstances, yeah, this was our best game, playing here, where they're like Superman at their house," Long Beach State center Travis Reed said. "We were up by 15 points at Idaho and blew it (64-62 on Saturday in Long Beach). We learned from that experience."

Long Beach State went on a 15-2 run to close the first half and led 39-28 at halftime. Pacific scored the first seven points of the second half, then went ice cold, missing foul shots, layups and jumpers from all distances. The Tigers trailed 46-43 with 11 minutes, 5 seconds remaining but drew no closer.

Reed was a constant problem. He dominated the Tigers' big men and scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with nine rebounds in 37 minutes.

"They're big and they're strong," Reed said of Pacific's interior players, "so I was trying to use a lot of quick moves."

Reed gave the 49ers their biggest lead of the second half, 58-43, after he sealed Tigers' reserve center Ross Mills, scored and was fouled. He converted the 3-point play, then watched his backcourt of Ron Johnson and Michael Darrett control the ball.

"I think Reed's the best post in the conference," Thomason said. "Our post guys were really nulified."

Forward Mike Hahn and center Mike Preston combined to score 13 points, and Mills and reserve center Tim Johnson combined for four points. With nothing happening inside offensively, the Tigers went to their guards for points. But Long Beach State's quickness prevented Maurice McLemore and Demetrius Jackson from penetrating effectively. The Tigers were reduced to launching 3-pointers, 32 of them for the game, but they made 10 (31.3 percent).

"When the ball doesn't go in, it beats down your soul," Thomason said. "I thought we took a lot of good shots."

Kevin Roberts started for injured Rudy Williams and grabbed nine rebounds before he fouled out, and freshman guard Cody Pearson came off the bench to contribute eight points and six rebounds. The 49ers made 51 percent of their field goals and 38.9 percent of their 3-point shots.

Jackson led Pacific with 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting, and freshman forward Jasko Korajkic had a career-high 10 points.

When asked if his team is at a low point emotionally, Thomason said, "I have to believe it. We were at a low point after our last road trip. We hoped to come home and shoot better."

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

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