Men’s Basketball: ‘Eaters denied in semis

ANAHEIM — At halftime, UC Irvine men’s basketball coach Russell Turner said the overwhelming theme in the locker room was frustration. Devastation, however, followed the Anteaters when they returned after the game, in which Long Beach State took UCI’s NCAA Tournament dream with a 77-72 upset in the semifinals of the Big West Conference Tournament on Friday night at Honda Center.

The No. 3-seeded 49ers claimed a 39-30 halftime lead by making 21 of 24 free-throw attempts, as UCI was just six for nine from the foul line and was whistled for 16 of the 25 first-half fouls.

UCI, led by explosive scoring from junior reserve Jaron Martin, rallied from a 13-point deficit to take a 62-61 lead with 6:44 to go.

But a three-pointer by Long Beach senior Nick Faust sparked a 7-0 surge that put the 49ers back on top and the No. 2-seeded ‘Eaters, who shared the regular-season conference crown and swept their two conference meetings with their Black-and-Blue rival, never got closer than two.

“There was a high level of frustration in our locker room at halftime because so many calls went against us, it was surprising,” said UCI Coach Russell Turner, who shouted at one official that “You guys took the game from us,” in the closing seconds. “Honestly, I did not know how to explain the [free-throw discrepancy].”

Turner gave credit to Long Beach State for making enough plays to win, but also noted that “our free-throw defense wasn’t very good.”

Long Beach State (20-13), which will meet top-seeded Hawaii in Saturday’s title game for the right to represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament, finished 28 for 34 from the foul line (82.4%). It came into the game ranked No. 8 among nine conference schools, having hit just 67.4% of its free-throw tries to that point.

UCI (25-9), which said it will accept a postseason bid, should it be invited by the NIT or the CIT, was 16 for 26 from the line (61.5%), including 10 for 17 after halftime. UCI finished with 25 fouls, four more than the 49ers.

Martin, who started the second half, made four of his five second-half three-point attempts to post 18 of his game-high 21 points in the final 20 minutes.

Martin’s first second-half field goal, a layup with 16:32 left, contributed to a 9-0 UCI run that pulled the ‘Eaters within 45-41.

Martin’s third straight three-point conversion in a span of 2:32, cut the deficit to 61-57 with 8:43 remaining, but UCI had only three field goals until Martin canned another three-pointer with 16.4 seconds left that pulled UCI within 74-72.

Long Beach made three of four from the foul line in the final 15 seconds and a three-point try by UCI senior Alex Young sailed wide of the rim with two seconds left.

Young was two for 10 from the field, while junior back-court mate Luke Nelson, who had a career-high 36 points in the first-round win over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Thursday, finished two for seven from the field. Nelson, who was six for seven from threedom on Thursday, missed all four of his three-point tries, while Young failed to connect on his three attempts from beyond the arc.

Martin was five for eight from three-point range, but the rest of the ‘Eaters netted just one of 11 from threedom.

Long Beach was five for 11 from three-point range after halftime. Faust, who was six for 32 from the field against UCI this season through the opening minutes of the second half, made all four of his field-goal attempts down the stretch, including three three-pointers.

Faust finished with 15 points, while senior point guard Justin Bibbins netted a team-best 17 to pace six 49ers in double figures. Bibbins, whom Turner credited with terrific defense on Nelson, was four for six from the field, including three for five beyond the arc.

A.J. Spencer, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, produced most of his 13 points between the foul line and the rim, often lofting floaters over 7-6 UCI center Mamadou Ndiaye as the 49ers sliced up UCI’s zone defense to consistently get good shots.

“I tell our kids you have to love the rim, and like the three-pointer,” Long Beach Coach Dan Monson said.

UCI was 25 for 65 from the field (38.5%), while Long Beach shot 38.2%, making 21 of 55. UCI posted a 44-41 rebounding advantage and committed 11 turnovers, one more than the winners.

Ndiaye had 16 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists, while senior Mike Best chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Young collected eight rebounds, seven points, six assists and two steals, while Nelson finished with five points.

Nelson said following his windfall Thursday that UCI, which nearly upset Louisville in its NCAA Tournament debut last season, had unfinished business in the Big Dance.

Turns out, Long Beach had some unfinished business of its own.

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Big West Conference Tournament

Semifinal

Long Beach State 77, UC Irvine 72

LBSU – Levin 10, Riggins 0, Bibbins 17, Faust 15, Spencer 13, Hammonds 11, Prince 10, Blackwell 1.

3-pt. goals – Bibbins 3, Faust 3, Spencer 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

UCI – Best 12, Ndiaye 16, Young 7, Nelson 5, Dunning 0, Martin 21, Dimakopoulos 5, Galloway 4, Wright 2.

3-pt. goals – Martin 5, Dimakopoulos 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – 39-30, LBSU.