LBSU uses 25-3 run to put away CS Fullerton and sweep season series.
Long Beach State's James Ennis goes up for a short jumper Wednesday against Cal State Fullerton. (Scott Varley/Staff Photographer)
LONG BEACH - Long Beach State on Wednesday night took the court to try to do something it has not done during Dan Monson's five previous seasons coaching the men's basketball team - sweep Cal State Fullerton in Big West Conference play.
Even last season, when Long Beach went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Monson, the 49 ers could not do that.
They finally came through. Propelled by fine efforts from a host of players, and a 25-3 second-half run that broke open a tie game, first-place Long Beach came away with an 85-65 victory over the Titans before a very loud 4,730 at Walter Pyramid.
The 49 ers (15-9, 11-2) won by 10 points at Fullerton on Jan. 19.
Long Beach, which had a tremendous rebounding effort - something that does not happen often - got 15 rebounds from James Ennis, who also had a game-high 26 points and three steals.
Four other 49 ers scored in double figures. Tony Freeland had 13 points and 12 rebounds, Dan Jennings and Peter Pappageorge had 12 points apiece, Keala King scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds while doling out six assists and Mike Caffey had eight points and three assists.
Indeed, it was an overall fine team performance. Even defensively. While Long Beach was shooting 51.5 percent from the field, the 49 ers were holding the Titans to 35.3 percent.
"I think there was a 10-minute stretch in the second half that was the Long Beach State 49 ers basketball team that I envisioned
and others envisioned," Monson said. "Now it's consistency. You don't get to the NCAA Tournament on 10 minutes."Fullerton (12-12, 5-7) was led by 18 points apiece from Sammy Yeager and Kwame Vaughn.
The game was tied 46-46 after Yeager made a 3-pointer with 12:23 to play. But a layup by Jennings started the 49 ers on a 13-0 run that eventually grew to a 25-3 run and a 71-49 lead with 9:05 to play.
"Just off defensive stops," Ennis said, when asked about the key to the decisive run. "And we started to get our break open more."
Freeland said, "We also communicated more on defense, which made it easier."
As for the complete performance, which included Long Beach out-rebounding Fullerton 49-30, Freeland intimated it was coming.
"We were due to have a real good game overall, so it was time to have one," he said.
The first half was very entertaining, with both teams making key defensive plays as well as clutch baskets. With the game tied 3-3, Ennis made a put-back then came back down the next time and buried a 3-pointer for an 8-3 49ers lead.
D.J. Seeley (10 points) made two free throws, but Pappageorge responded with a 3-pointer for an 11-5 Long Beach advantage.
Then, leading 11-7, the 49 ers scored the next five points on one of two free throws by Freeland, a rebound basket by Ennis and a monster dunk by Ennis off a pretty assist by Freeland for a 16-7 cushion.
But the Titans were hanging tough. With time winding down, the 49 ers were in front 40-34 and in position to go up by eight points. They turned over the ball and Vaughn threw down a dunk to get the Titans within 40-36 with 22 seconds left before the break.
However, Long Beach ended the half on a high note when King fed Jennings, who powered down a huge dunk at the buzzer for a 42-36 49 ers lead at intermission.
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