Long Beach Plays Host to Fresno State Tonight

Cal State Long Beach will play Fresno State tonight at 7:30 in the university gym, opening a four-game home stand that Coach Ron Palmer views as an opportunity for the 49ers to establish themselves as a basketball contender in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn.

Palmer believes that the 49ers, 6-8 overall, are capable of increasing their 1-1 league record to 5-1, which he says would almost guarantee the team a spot in the PCAA’s postseason tournament.

“Then we can point to competing for first or second place,” he said.

In Palmer’s first two seasons, the 49ers did not make the tournament because they failed to finish among the top eight teams in the 10-team league. He does not anticipate that happening this year.

Fresno State, which has defeated Long Beach six straight times, has struggled with four sophomores and a junior in the starting lineup. The Bulldogs (6-7, 1-1) have not won a road game in five tries.