Long Beach Turns Back Houston

Andre Purry, well-rested now that he has recovered from some late-night studying, soared high above his taller opponents Monday night to lead Cal State Long Beach to a 71-65 victory over Houston before a crowd of 1,762 in the 49er gym.

Purry attributed his slow start this season to lack of sleep. “I’ve been staying up late doing extra papers,” he said.

But he scored 18 points against the Cougars, six more than he had scored in four previous games.

The rest of the 49ers were wide awake, too, as Long Beach won impressively for the second straight game.

Using a tight zone defense, the 49ers took away Houston’s inside game, but the Cougars pecked away at a 44-28 halftime deficit and almost caught up late in the game.

With 4:55 to play, Houston cut the lead to 63-60.

Purry, a 6-foot 5-inch sophomore, then hit a soft bank shot to make it 65-60.

Next, he received a pass well out on the left side, took one quick giant step and took off for his fifth--and most spectacular--dunk of the night.

When John Hatten followed with a turnaround jump shot, the 49ers were ahead, 69-60, and about all the previously unbeaten Cougars had left was a flurry of unsuccessful three-point attempts.

Hatten, a 6-9, 255-pound sophomore, came off the bench to grab 13 rebounds in 17 minutes.

Nine 49ers scored.

“We’re playing a lot better together,” Purry said. “Everybody off the bench is equal to the players on the floor.”

Long Beach held Houston forward Greg Anderson, who had been averaging 29 points a game, to 13. Anderson had 18 rebounds but made only 5 of 14 shots.

The Cougars (4-1) shot only 33% from the field.

“I’m satisfied,” said Long Beach Coach Ron Palmer, whose team is 3-2. “In the last two games, when the other team has made a big run, we have regrouped enough to hold them off.