A high-energy team performance led the Long Beach State men’s basketball team to a 74-56 rout over Montana in Saturday’s nationally-televised ESPN2 Sears BracketBuster match-up at the Walter Pyramid.
The 49ers (17-10), winners of six in a row, used a complete team effort as four of their five starters reached double-digits in scoring led by junior forward Eugene Phelps, who finished with a game-high 19 points on 9-of-12 from the field. Junior guards Larry Anderson (17 points) and Casper Ware (12 points) also effectively contributed to The Beach attack.
“This year they’ve really bought into what we’re asking them to do,” LBSU head coach Dan Monson said. “We’re more of a team, we’re more balanced.
“I think we’re becoming a good team. [We’re] trying to become a great team, and today we took a step towards being a great team.”
Junior forward T.J. Robinson recorded another double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds — the 13th time this season he has posted a double-double. Despite playing 31 minutes, after the game Robinson still wanted to play more basketball.
“I really want to play another game [right now],” he said. “I got so much energy right now.”
Montana (19-8), ranked 16th on College Insider’s latest Top 25 Mid-Major poll, had trouble generating offense as it finished the game shooting 38.2 percent (21 of 55),0 and just 22.8 percent (4 of 18) from beyond the arc. Despite going up against two big men in senior Brian Qvale (6-11) and junior Derek Selvig (7-0), The Beach was able to outscore the Grizzlies 38-30 in the paint. Qvale led Montana with 17 points while the ‘Niners left Selvig scoreless with just one rebound in 24 minutes.
The 49ers outscored the Grizzlies 15-4 in the first 5:15 capped by Ware, who capitalized on a continuation play as he was fouled while draining a finger roll layup.
“Defensively is what I was excited about, in that first five minutes,” Monson said.
Robinson added: “We came out with great defense, and that opened up our offense.”
Both teams were left to play without its stars for much of the half as Montana’s center Qvale received his second foul and was benched with 12:16 left to play. Ware also was forced to leave the game due to foul trouble as he received his second foul going over-the-back with 8:05 until halftime.
LBSU finished the half with strong offensive rebounding, as Robinson cleaned up a missed free throw by junior forward Edis Dervisevic with 1:27 to play, and then senior guard Brandon Nevens brought in a missed 3-pointer and scored a layup to put the ‘Niners ahead, 36-24. Nevens then ran down court and drew a charge with 12.8 seconds left in the half.
“We’re starting to get good chemistry,” Robinson said. “It’s starting to show.”
In the second half, the Grizzlies closed to within single digits, 54-46, with 7:18 left in the game, but LBSU went on a 14-2 run over the next 3:24 — capped off by Anderson’s continuation layup. He made the free throw to put the ‘Niners up 68-48.
The focus now turns to Thursday when the 49ers (11-2 Big West Conference) return to conference play as Cal Poly (14-12, 9-4 Big West) comes to the Pyramid in a battle of the top two seeds. The ‘Niners can clinch the regular-season Big West title with a win.
“Now we need to take care of Thursday, and not get too far ahead of ourselves,” Monson said.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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