Long Beach Loses Again; Palmer Is Rehired as Coach

Cal State Long Beach’s trying season ended Saturday night as the 49ers, last in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn., lost to first-place Nevada Las Vegas, 94-76, at the Long Beach Arena.

The 49ers finished 3-15 in the league and 7-22 overall but Coach Ron Palmer had a reason to look to the future.

“Ron’s contract is going to be renewed for next season,” Long Beach Athletic Director John Kasser said after the game. “There was never any thought of not renewing it.”

From the start, Long Beach was no match for Las Vegas, which moved quickly to a 22-point lead in the first half. The 49ers never came closer than 10..

The Rebels (16-2 and 28-4) won the game under the basket as forward Armon Gilliam muscled his way for 27 points, 16 in the first half.

“I thought they overpowered us inside,” said Palmer, .

That was the idea, said Las Vegas Coach Jerry Tarkanian.

“We wanted to get the ball inside to Armon to re-establish an inside game,” said Tarkanian, whose team in recent games has depended on the outside shooting of Freddie Banks and Anthony Jones.

However, Jones with 21 points and Banks with 13, continued to be major factors.

Sophomore Morlon Wiley, coming off a 37-point performance against Utah State, led the 49ers with 22 points while freshman John Hatten scored 16.

The 49ers finished in the league basement for the second straight season under Palmer, who played three freshmen and four sophomores against the Rebels.