The Long Beach State men’s basketball team received a small scare — in more ways than one — in its regular-season finale Wednesday night in Riverside.
Greg Plater scored 15 of his career-high 24 points in the first half to lead the 49ers to an 82-76 victory over host UC Riverside at the Student Recreation Center.
Plater, who made 7 of 13 shots including five 3-pointers, passed former teammate Stephan Gilling to move into second place on LBSU’s all-time single-season list for 3-pointers made. The senior guard, who has 85 this season, trails just Jibril Hodges, who made 87 from long distance in the 2005-06 season.
The ‘Niners (20-10, 14-2 Big West), who have won nine straight games, reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since a 24-8 campaign in the 2006-07 season.
LBSU, the No. 1 seed in the Big West Tournament at the Honda Center, will now await its opponent and No. 8 seed. The conference’s regular season will wrap up Saturday, and there’s a possibility that UCR (10-18, 5-10 Big West) could be the first-round opponent.
Regardless, the 49ers will play in a first-round game at noon on March 10 in Anaheim.
The 49ers led by as many as 19 points and took care of the ball en route to a 44-35 halftime lead. The Beach committed just two of its nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
However, the Highlanders fought back to cut the deficit to one on two separate occasions inside the final six minutes, but could never tie or take the lead.
After a Phil Martin 3 cut the lead to 72-71, the 49ers answered with a pair of free throws and Plater banked in a jump shot for his final field goal with 1:36 to play.
Trailing 76-74 and with the ball, UCR’s Javon Borum saw his shot blocked out of bounds by Larry Anderson with 45.2 seconds left. The Highlanders then missed two more opportunities on the ensuing possession, and LBSU iced the game at the free-throw line.
Three other 49ers finished in double figures including T.J. Robinson (18 points and 10 rebounds), Casper Ware (17 points) and Anderson (10 points).
Plater and his teammates dodged a bullet with 6:18 left.
The guard slipped and, according to the LBSU radio play-by-play, was holding the inside of his right leg with what may have been a groin-related injury. But Plater walked to the locker room on his own power and returned to the game.
UCR became the first team in five games to score 60 or more points against LBSU. Highlanders guard Kareem Nitoto paced the team with 23 points.
Need a ride to Anaheim?
Long Beach State students can sign up for a free bus ride to and from Anaheim for as long as the 49ers advance in the Big West Conference men’s basketball tournament at the Honda Center.
Students can sign up now at the Beach Pride Center in the University Student Union or at the Walter Pyramid box office (Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.).
The LBSU athletic department is sponsoring the bus trip.
All riders will receive a free game ticket and “Tournament Takeover T-shirt,” and each bus will provide free food and drinks (while supplies last).
Each bus trip will require a $5 deposit, which will be returned to the student on the day of the trip.
Schedule:
• March 10: Bus leaves from the Pyramid at 10:30 a.m.
• March 11: Bus leaves from the Pyramid at 4:45 p.m.*
• March 12: Bus leaves from the Pyramid at 3 p.m.*
*If LBSU wins previous round
Students not on the bus trip can still receive a free ticket by presenting an LBSU ID card at the Honda Center box office on the day of the game.
For more information, e-mail LBSU director of marketing Dedan Brozino at [email protected].
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