49ers outlast ‘Eaters

LONG BEACH — Some ill-advised long passes that became Long Beach State turnovers helped visiting UC Irvine create a little late drama in the 49ers’ 75-74 Big West Conference men’s basketball victory Thursday at the Walter Pyramid.

But, one could hardly blame the hosts for trying for the home run, since they had been going deep with success most of the first 35 minutes.

Long Beach State, which came in shooting 32.8% from three-point range the first 25 games, hit 11 of 21 three-pointers (52.4%) to outlast the Anteaters.

UCI (10-18, 6-8 in conference) showed some long-distance wizardry of its own, netting 10 of 18 three-point tries (55.6%), including seven of its first 10. The Anteaters finished at 55.8% from the field (24 of 43).

But the small, quick lineup that proved so difficult for Long Beach defenders to chase down beyond the three-point line, proved problematic in the rebounding department for UCI.

Long Beach State (14-12, 9-4) posted half of its 32 rebounds on the offensive glass, creating a 16-2 advantage in second-chance points.

UCI had eight rebounds at halftime and finished with 19.

“We know we’re small and we couldn’t hold them down on the boards,” said UCI Coach Pat Douglass, whose team nearly defeated one of the conference leaders for the second time in eight days. [The 49ers] were too awesome for us on the boards.”

Junior Stephan Gilling, who came in shooting 35% from three-point range, netted seven of his first 10 from beyond the arc and finished seven of 12 for a career-high 23 points in 26 minutes off the bench. Gilling’s seven three balls were also a career high, marking only the second time all season he had connected on more than five in one game.

“Gilling hit his first couple and he just kept going,” Douglass said of the 6-foot-2 guard, who made at least two second-half three-pointers after corkscrewing his body in the air, having just come off a screen and receiving a pass with his feet facing the sideline.

“We tried to have somebody stay with him, but he was just a little faster than us.”

UCI, for the second straight game, got off to a fast start, led by its long-range shooting.

The Anteaters made five of their first six three-point tries to take a 26-22 lead and when Chad DeCasas connected from beyond the arc with 5:57 left before halftime, UCI had produced its last four field goals on three-pointers to take a 29-22 advantage.

Junior guard Michael Hunter made four of six three-point attempts in the first 20 minutes, when he produced 14 of his 16 points.

Both DeCasas and sophomore Patrick Rembert were two for three from three-point range, and Rembert was fouled while sinking his first three-pointer. The subsequent four-point play pulled the ’Eaters within 73-71 with 1:08 left in the game.

The four-point play capped a 9-0 UCI run that included three Brett Lauer foul shots after he was fouled attempting a 30-footer.

But a string of offensive rebounds on the Long Beach State possession that followed the four-point play, led to a pair of Gilling free throws with 30 seconds left to up the lead to four.

Rembert missed a three-point try on the ensuing possession, but Long Beach’s Larry Anderson missed a pair of double-bonus free throws with six seconds left to extend some suspense.

Rembert connected again as time was running out, and Douglass’ attempt to get a final timeout failed to beat the buzzer.

“Gilling made some shots in the second half and, it’s a miracle how when you hit some shots, your [team] defense seems to get better,” Long Beach State Coach Dan Monson said.

“And we rebounded hard. That was one of our better rebounding games. We were able to get some of our own misses to keep us close when we were struggling in the game.”

UCI freshman Eric Wise had 13 of his team-high 17 points in the second half, but he had just one rebound.

Senior Kevin Bland had eight rebounds and 11 points for UCI, which received 11 points from Rembert.

Both teams had 12 turnovers, but Long Beach had 18 assists, to UCI’s 12.

The 49ers had 30 points in the paint, to 18 by UCI.

“I feel like we were lucky to get out of here with the win,” Monson said.

Big West Conference

Long Beach State 75, UC Irvine 74

UCI – Bland 11, Wise 17, Hunter 16, Rembert 11, Lauer 6, DeCasas 8, Strings 3, Atkinson 2.

3-pt. goals – Hunter 4, Rembert 2, DeCasas 2, Lauer 1, Strongs 1.

Fouled out – None.

LBSU – Robinson 14, Freeman 6, Anderson 12, Ware 12, Plater 3, Gilling 23, Williams 3, Phelps 2.

3-pt. goals – Gilling 7, Plater 1, Williams 1, Ware 1.

Fouled out – None.

Halftime: UCI, 36-35.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].