49ers’ Easy Misses Make It Easy for Santa Barbara

Nothing has come easy for Cal State Long Beach this season, especially easy shots.

The 49ers blew several layup attempts Thursday night that led to their 10th straight loss, this one 72-56 to UC Santa Barbara.

“If the layup were a new shot in basketball, I would understand it,” said Long Beach Coach Ron Palmer, who is suffering through his first season as a college head coach with a 2-15 record.

But Palmer knew it wasn’t just the missed close shots that cost his team.

“I would imagine we shot another 30%,” he said. The actual figure was 36.2%, which paled against Santa Barbara’s 56.8%.

Starting forwards Stafford Hamlin and Darryl Adams combined for two points, whereas their Santa Barbara counterparts, Khris Fortson and Scott Fisher, each scored 14.

“We need people who can put the ball in the basket,” Palmer said. “Freshmen I could understand, but not people who have experience.”

The outcome was decided early as the Gauchos jumped to a 16-4 lead. That didn’t surprise Palmer, who didn’t like the way the 49ers had warmed up.

“We need more intensity in warmups,” he said.

Only one Long Beach player, senior guard Cardell Taylor, came off the bench hot. Taylor scored 21 points and was about the only offensive threat the 49ers had.

Santa Barbara led, 39-28, at halftime and steadily increased the margin in the second half.

Conner Henry and Richard Townsend each scored 13 points for the Gauchos, who are 5-5 in Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. play and 9-10 overall. Long Beach is winless in nine PCAA games.