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Date Posted: 08:34:27 02/15/02 Fri
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Press Telegram Article
In reply to: Jon Ralston 's message, "Cold Shooting continues" on 08:28:31 02/15/02 Fri

Friday, February 15, 2002
49ers pull out an improbable win
By Gordon Verrell
Staff writer

STOCKTON - Any thought that Long Beach State's men's basketball team was merely playing out the string, going through the motions, waiting and wondering who'll be the coach next season, was dispelled in impressive fashion Thursday night.

And, in the most unlikelysetting, too.

The 49ers battered University of Pacific, 77-63, in a Big West Conference game before a crowd of 2,860 at the Spanos Center, an arena where the Tigers had won nine of 10 games this season, including the last eight.

Even Bob Thomason, the veteran Pacific coach, had to gush, saying, "We couldn't stop 'em."

All of which no doubt has 49er fans wondering: Where's this team been all season?

The team that blew large, second-half leads this season against UC Riverside, and just last Saturday against Idaho, this time not only held on, it pushed the envelope.

When Pacific pared the 49ers' 11-point halftime lead to four … and in a matter of a mere 2“ minutes … there was a certain uh oh, here-they-go-again feeling.

Later, the Tigers (14-9 overall, 6-7 Big West) were within three, 46-43, with 11:05 remaining in the game. But that's when the 49ers (9-16, 5-9) suddenly took off on a 12-0 run.

They didn't lead by fewer than 10 points the rest of the way.

The 49ers sealed the win by making nine of 12 free throws the last 2:20 of the game.

Even that had Thomason puzzled.

"Even the guys who don't normally make their free throws were making them," he said.

Actually, Thomason shouldn't have been too shocked. No matter how rough a season it's been for the 49ers … and this has been a rough one, indeed … they play well against Pacific. The 49ers have won seven in a row against Pacific, including the last three they've played here.

"Under the circumstances, yeah, this is probably our best game," said senior forward Travis Reed, who scored 17 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, blocked 2 shots and afterward was described by Thomason as "the best low post player in the league."

"These guys play like Superman at their house," he said. "Their big guys are big and strong. I tried to use some quick moves against them.

"But we're learning from experience. We're learning how to play with a lead."

That's been a problem all season. For a good part of the season the 49ers rarely had a lead. Then, when they got one, a good number of times they blew it.

"I certainly reminded them at halftime," said Coach Wayne Morgan. "They'd played a great first half, just like against Idaho. This time they also played a great second half. Pacific made it's run, and we held on."

Those "circumstances" Reed was talking about also pertain to Morgan, who announced last week that he's resigning at the close of the season. Thursday night's win was his first since his disclosure.

The 49ers used a stunning 19-4 run splurge to close out the first half, then their 12-0 run in the second half to hold off the Tigers.

Michael Darrett tied his career high with 14 points and also recorded a team-high four assists. Ron Johnson, with 12 points, and Tony Darden, with 10, were also in double figures for the 49ers, who shot 51 percent, including 39 percent (7 for 18) 3-pointers.

Pacific managed only 34 percent from the field.

"We missed some free throws and some layups," Thomason said. "We struggled with our shooting, and I don't know why."

Demetrius Jackson led Pacific with 13 points, and Jasko Kiedrowski came off the bench for 10 points. Second-leading scorer Maurice McLemore (10.1) finished with nine points, but he scored only one point in the first half.

The Tigers missed 22 of 32 3-point attempts.

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