Thursday, March 5, 2009

Beach heads North to finish Big West schedule

@ Cal Poly tonight, UCSB Saturday....

Long Beach (14-13, 9-5) started Big West play the same way they will finish it - by taking on Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara.

When LBSU last took on Cal Poly (7-19, 3-11) it was their most lopsided Big West win as they knocked off the Mustangs 70-57 to run their conference record to 2-0.

The 'Niners overcame a sluggish start with some hot outside shooting from Greg Plater and Stephan Gilling. The two combined for 29 points making 9-of-16 from 3-point range.

Senior guard Chaz Thomas had 17 points in the loss for Cal Poly.

The Mustangs have lost six of their last seven in conference play and are yet to win a Big West game at home this season going 0-6 so far.

Back on January 2nd, The Beach kicked off conference play with a 76-64 win over UCSB (13-14, 6-8) at the Pyramid.

Casper Ware had 21 points - 15 of which came in the second half - while Donovan Morris scored 16 and Brian Freeman had a double-double adding 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Chris Devine was one of just two Gauchos in double figures scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds while James Powell had 10.

UCSB has been hot of late winning five of their last six games.

The freshman big-men are carrying the load for The Beach in a big way of late. Over the last six games Larry Anderson is averaging 18.8 points and 6.5 rebounds while T.J. Robinson is getting 17.3 points and pulling down 8.5 rebounds.

LBSU currently sits one game behind Cal State Northridge (10-4 Big West) and one half-game ahead of Pacific (9-6) in the standings.

With a win this weekend they can clinch at least a number two seed in next week's conference tournament at the convention center in Anaheim.

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